High Myopia in Singapore: Complications to Watch for and When to See a Retina Specialist
Summary:
- High myopia is severe short-sightedness where the eyeball becomes elongated and stretches the retina.
- It increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts and myopic maculopathy.
- Sudden flashes, floaters or blurred vision may require urgent retina assessment.
High myopia is an increasingly significant public health concern in Singapore and across Asia. While mild short-sightedness can typically be managed effectively with spectacles or contact lenses, high myopia is often associated with an increased risk of eye conditions over one’s lifetime. These eye conditions may develop gradually without noticeable symptoms in the early stages.
Singapore has one of the highest myopia rates in the world, with research showing that up to 80 to 90% of young Singapore adults are myopic. Among these individuals, a large percentage of them will end up with high myopia, which changes the eye structure and gives rise to retinal issues, glaucoma and other vision-threatening conditions.
This article guides you through what high myopia is, the complications you should look out for, warning signs that require urgent medical attention, and how going for regular eye checks at a reliable eye clinic in Singapore can help you keep your vision safe in the long run.
What is high myopia?
High myopia, also known as pathologic myopia, is a severe form of short-sightedness, generally defined as -6.00 dioptres or greater or having an axial length of more than 26.5mm.
In a highly myopic eye, the eyeball becomes too long and stretches the retina. This puts strain on the tissues at the back of the eye.
Why do those with high myopia have a higher risk?
The stretching of the eye can lead to:
- Retinal thinning
- Peripheral retina weakening
- Macular degeneration
- Damage to the optic nerve from eye pressure
All these structural changes mean that high myopes are more likely to develop a multitude of serious eye conditions. They are 5 to 6 times more likely to have a retinal detachment than the general population. Hence, regular monitoring by an experienced eye specialist in Singapore is a must and should be part of one’s regular health check.
Common complications arising from high myopia
Having high myopia does not automatically mean you will develop eye diseases, but your risk of certain complications does become a lot higher as a result of it.
1. Retinal tear and retinal detachment
One of the complications to watch out for is retinal tear or retinal detachment.
The retina gets stretched in those with high myopia. This can cause small weak spots to develop in the periphery of the retina. In turn, these weak spots can tear, and fluid can seep underneath the retina.
This can lead to retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency that needs urgent and prompt treatment.
High myopia is one of the most common risk factors for retinal detachment in adults.
2. Myopic maculopathy
The macula is the portion of the retina that is responsible for detailed vision. In high myopia, the macula can develop degenerative changes known as myopic maculopathy.
These changes can include:
- Macular thinning
- Lacquer cracks (breaks in Bruch’s membrane)
- Choroidal neovascularisation (abnormal blood vessel growth)
- Macular atrophy
Over time, these changes can lead to progressive loss of central vision if the condition is not caught early.
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3. Glaucoma
People with high myopia are also more at risk of glaucoma, which is a condition where damage to the optic nerve causes gradual vision loss.
The reason why this is more common in myopic eyes is still being investigated, but it could be because:
- The optic nerve gets damaged
- Myopic eyes are more susceptible to pressure damage
- It is harder to spot early glaucoma changes in myopic eyes
Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” because it can creep up on you without any obvious symptoms until vision loss has already happened.
4. Cataracts
High myopia is also linked to an increased risk of getting certain types of cataracts, such as nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataracts.
While cataracts are highly treatable with surgery, getting them spotted early is of critical importance.
Symptoms that require urgent same-day assessment
Some visual symptoms experienced by highly myopic individuals might be warning signs that a retinal tear or a retinal detachment has occurred and that needs urgent eye assessment by an eye doctor in Singapore. These symptoms include:
Sudden flashes of light
They can appear like brief lightning streaks or camera flashes in the periphery. This occurs when the vitreous gel inside the eye pulls on the retina.
New floaters
Floaters appear in several different forms:
- Small black dots floating across your line of sight
- Cobweb-like strands trailing behind your vision
- Shadows that float in front of your eyes
If you are suddenly seeing many more floaters than usual, it could be a sign that you have a retinal tear – and that is something you should look into right away.
Shadow or curtain vision
This can manifest as a:
- Dark curtain or veil that keeps moving across part of the vision
- A partial visual field is blocked or missing bits of vision
This symptom can point to a retinal detachment – you need to get to an eye doctor right away.
Blurred or distorted central vision
This could be a sign that you are at risk of macular complications, which can be a problem if you are highly myopic.
If any of these symptoms manifest, it is highly recommended to visit an eye specialist clinic in Singapore like Eye Max Centre and get your condition checked out by a trained eye specialist doctor.
Recommended monitoring approach
For high myopes, it is recommended to get the eyes checked regularly to catch any problems early before they cause any permanent visual damage.
How often should eye screenings be done?
It will depend on your specific situation and risk factors, so you should probably follow the advice of your eye specialist. Most ophthalmologists suggest:
- Every 6 to 12 months, if the condition is stable and there are no complications that require even closer monitoring.
- Every 3 to 6 months, if there are symptoms of myopic maculopathy or if the eye specialist spots something suspicious.
What are some useful eye tests for monitoring?
- Dilated fundus exam to ensure the eye condition is healthy
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan to keep an eye on the optic nerve for abnormal issues
- Visual field test to check for peripheral vision loss
- Intraocular pressure test to measure the eye pressure
- A retinal imaging scan to check for retinal damage
If you are looking to seek myopia treatment or myopia control in Singapore, find an eye clinic or vision centre in Singapore that can do comprehensive retinal imaging and glaucoma screening, like Eye Max Centre.
Prevention basics
While you cannot prevent high myopia altogether, there are some things that you can do which may help reduce your risk and maintain good eye health.
Avoid eye trauma
Highly myopic eyes are a bit more delicate, so you should probably wear protective eyewear while playing sports.
Regular eye exams
It is important for people with severe myopia to visit an experienced eye specialist in Singapore regularly for exams to check the retina. The more severe your myopia, the greater your risk.
Getting your eyes checked out regularly means you can catch any problems early, if any and achieve the best possible visual outcome.
Seek treatment in a timely manner when there are new visual symptoms
If you notice any sudden changes in your vision or new symptoms, head over to an eye specialist in Singapore for an assessment as soon as possible. Delaying treatment can result in permanent, irreversible loss of vision.
Schedule an eye screening
If you have high myopia or have been noticing symptoms like sudden changes in vision, flashes or floaters. It is definitely worth getting them checked out by an eye specialist in Singapore.
At Eye Max Centre in Singapore, our trained and experienced ophthalmologists will be able to support your vision needs when it comes to high myopia and retinal conditions.
Our team is dedicated to providing the following:
- Comprehensive and thorough eye checks to ensure optimal vision and eye health
- Up-to-date diagnostic scans and retinal images to have a better look at your eye condition
- Assist in slowing down and/or preventing myopia from getting worse
- Diagnose and treat eye diseases/conditions, including retina issues, glaucoma and cataract
If you are concerned about developing high myopia or have high myopia-related eye conditions, we encourage you to schedule a comprehensive eye screening to detect any potential issues early.
Contact us for an eye screening at +65 6694 1000 or manager@eyemax.sg.
