Complications of myopia
As myopia is a common refractive error globally. Its complications increase the health burden on all the community. Regular follow up and screening is mandatory to prevent myopia complications. From these complications:
- Myopic macular degenerations (MMK): Itis one of the serious complications of myopia. The risk of MMK increases in association with the degree of myopia. A study by Haarmant et al. showed that prevalence of myopic macular degeneration is 1% to 7% in low myopia patients, while in degenerative myopia patients the prevalence ranges from 13% to 65%.
- Retinal detachment: In myopia especially degenerative or pathological myopia, there are elevated risk to develop retinal break or tear, which may progress later to complete retinal detachment. The same study by Haarmant et al. founded that all the types of myopia carry the risk of developing retinal detachment. Symptoms of retinal detachments include sudden blurry vision, sudden onset of eye floaters, or sudden increase of their numbers, and black curtain in the visual field that appear suddenly.
- Other complications: Myopia patients have a risk to be diagnosed with other conditions such as:
- Open angle glaucoma
- Cataract
