{"id":17012,"date":"2021-09-05T18:42:25","date_gmt":"2021-09-05T18:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=17012"},"modified":"2025-09-02T11:16:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T11:16:12","slug":"what-is-degenerative-myopia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-blurry-vision-and-headaches\/what-is-degenerative-myopia\/","title":{"rendered":"Degenerative Myopia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options"},"content":{"rendered":"

Degenerative myopia is estimated to affect 3% of the world’s population.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Myopia,<\/a> also called nearsightedness, is a condition in which images focus in front of the eye, causing a blurred image on the retina<\/a>. Nearsightedness worsens when the picture moves further away from the retina, resulting in blurry vision in the distance.<\/p>\n

There is a high risk of vision loss in the more severe forms of myopia, such as degenerative myopia<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n

What causes myopia?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Light rays focus on the front of the retina in myopia. As a result, close items are clearly seen, while distant objects are blurry. However, near vision might worsen to the point that reading close to the face becomes challenging.<\/p>\n

A myopic eye might develop in one of three ways:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The cornea (the front surface of the eye) is excessively curved and therefore too powerful<\/li>\n
  2. The eyeball is too long<\/li>\n
  3. A combination of both<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When the growing phase is complete, myopia usually stabilizes, and glasses can restore normal vision. Increased levels of myopia<\/a>, on the other hand, are often genetic, meaning that if one of the parents is moderately or severely nearsighted, the chances of one of the children being myopic are higher.<\/p>\n

    Juvenile onset myopia is a type of myopia that starts in childhood and almost always worsens as you get older.<\/p>\n

    The severe forms of myopia, such as degenerative myopia<\/b>, increase the<\/b> risk of vision loss and blindness.<\/b><\/p>\n

    The retina is stressed by the deformation of the eye, and it can become injured or detached, leading to significant deterioration of visual acuity.<\/p>\n

    What is degenerative myopia?<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Degenerative myopia, also known as \u2018pathological myopia\u2019 or \u2018progressive myopia\u2019, is the type of nearsightedness that creates major vision loss.<\/p>\n

    This condition can cause significant visual loss and poor eyesight. Degenerative myopia can strike anyone at any age, although it’s most frequent in adults in their 30s and 40s.<\/p>\n

    The disorder is caused by myopia-related alterations in the shape of the eyes. Myopia is characterized by enlarged eyeballs, which cause the ocular tissues to be stretched thinner than normal. This can put you at a higher risk of macular degeneration and other retinal issues.<\/p>\n

    Signs and symptoms of degenerative myopia<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Common signs and symptoms of degenerative myopia include:<\/p>\n