Do I have pathological myopia?

I am a 28 yr old Asian male. When I was 6 I had -3.5D myopia. It progressed to -7.5D when I was 15, -8.75D (22) and -9.25D (25).  I work long hours with computers and in the past two years my left eye perhaps progressed 0.5D (with glasses my right eye is now 20/20 and left eye a little better than 20/25). I had eye exam every year; intraocular pressure is normal, and no retinal problems have been specifically mentioned by my ophthalmologist. I do have some floaters. My question is: given this situation, does it mean that my myopia is unlikely to further progress? Some sources claim that myopia >-8.0D is "pathological" and will progress even in adulthood and eventually lead to macular problems. So what is the likelihood for that scenario to occur in me? Thank you

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You have "high myopia". Where you have "pathologic" myopia depends on wwether your elongated eye has developed pathology such as myopic macular degeneration, lattice, holes, tears detachments, etc.   Thus a person with a glasses RX of -6.00 might be in much worse shape than you. So if your retina is normal you likely do not have pathologic myopia. Ask for clarification your next exam with the Eye MD.

JCH III MD

[cranium]

Thank you very much, Doctor. I have one more question: usually it is said that myopia tends to stabilize after 18, but my eyes seem to continue to progress even after 22, although the rate of progression is getting lower. Is this common? How likely would it continue to progress? I mean, even if now I don't have retinal problems, if myopia keeps progression, wouldn't it lead to degeneration some day when it becomes, say, -12D?

[infoseeker2008]

I am a 24 year old male. No one in my family has myopia or myopic degeneration. I have had specs since I was 12 years old. I started off with -0.25 and -0.75 but now my eye power is -6.5 (L) and -6.0 (R). This has been constant for the last 4.5 years. Till 6 months ago, my eye specialist said that my retina was absolutely normal and there was nothing to worry. However, about a week ago, I went for a regular check up to another doctor and he said that I have myopic degeneration in the initial stages. I was very worried and went to another specialist surgeon who did a detailed check up of the retina and eye pressure and said that I was absolutely normal. My retina was fine. He added that I had some white patches but those were normal for people with negative power. Could you please advise ? I have 100 % clear vision. If by chance, there is any degeneration, does it stabilise at some point ? Do vitamins help ? Please advise.

[infoseeker2008]

Are a few white patches on the retina natural for myopic eyes ? Do vitamin supplement tablets stabilise them ?

[pooja33]

A related discussion, pathological myopia was started.