symptom of pathological myopia

As a high myope (-9.25D both eyes), I am very concerned about the possibility of retinal detachment or macular degeneration.From previous posts it seems that "pathological myopia" is defined in terms of retinal pathologies, elongated eyeball etc. But apparently not every high myope has pathological alterations. My question is: are there "subjective" symptoms related to pathological myopia (rather than the simple high myopia)? For instance, headache, light sensitivity, feeling of pressure, etc?  Or is myopia progression in adult an indicator of pathological changes? Is it true that in adults > 20 yrs old, myopic progression always implies something going wrong? If myopia progresses slowly in adults (say < 0.5D per year), is it considered "common" or does it usually suggest something pathological?

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

1. There are usually no symptoms of pathological myopic degeneration (MD) until late in the disease then the symptoms are blurred vision and distortion (metamorphopsia).
2. Myopic progression in an adult myope does not always conote MD.
3. No, incorrect. I did not become myopic till age 24 and my Rx is stable at about -2.50  Also increasing myopia in an older patient is often due to cataract formation.
4. Progression is common and (like kids growing tall) usually stops.

Be sure you know the symptoms of a possible RD  sudden increase of floaters, flashes of light in the eye like lightening and loss of peripheral vision.

See an ophthalmologist yearly. Use search, archives and health topics and Google the things that can be done to reduce the risk of macular degeneration (for example don't smoke and sun protection).

JCH III MD