Myopia is not just vision correction by wearing glasses and contact lenses
We think of this especially when the diopter is over -3.0D-medium myopia, and even more so when the diopter is over -6.0D-high myopia.
Each growth of the eye in length by only 1mm carries a diopter increase of as much as -3.0D, and we can conclude that a healthy eye is one perfect diopter system. The growth of the eye is most pronounced in the period of the child’s growth and in the period of puberty. Then we expect the most significant increase in diopters.
What is what we advise:
- Regular check-ups every 6 months for children or for a year for adults.
- Diopter testing in cycloplegia (relaxation of accommodation through droplets that also lead to pupil dilation) in children and young people.
- Precise prescribing of the diopter of the sphere and the cylinder in order for vision to develop properly during childhood.
- Ultrasound monitoring of the increase in the length of the eye, especially in the period of the child’s growth, and thus of the eye.
In later years
- Examination of the anterior segment of the eye can reveal the premature appearance of nuclear cataract – clouding of the lens.
- Measurement of intraocular pressure, which is important for the detection of open-angle glaucoma in short-sighted eyes.
- Examination with a panfundoscope (contact glass) of the retina, especially the periphery, is important because in that part there are thinnings and degenerative changes that can later result in rupture, and then the appearance of retinal ablation with complete loss of vision. When ruptures or risky degenerative changes are observed, laser photocoagulation is indicated as prevention of ablation.
Somewhat later, increasing stretching of the posterior pole leads to the appearance of staphylomas of atrophically degenerative beaches that affect the posterior pole of the eye and thus the macula – our point of clear vision. We also find numerous stratifications in the macula.
Rupture of the retinal layers on the posterior pole can give rise to the proliferation of pathological blood vessels and bleeding in the macula, which can lead to a significant decrease in visual acuity – Fuchs macular degeneration.
For fine monitoring of changes in the posterior pole / macula, an OCT examination should be included in the diagnosis.
A lot of attention should be paid to the highly short-sighted eye, right?
Our office is here to detect and treat complications that can occur with the short-sighted eye in time.