Strengthening the understanding of the pathological evolution of myopia

Abstract

The concern of high myopia in adolescents is increasingly prominent, because of the high prevalence and early onset of myopia in younger children. High myopia increases the risk of various fundus complications, resulting in serious damage to the vision of the working population. The mechanisms underlying the fundus pathology in high myopia remain unknown, although some studies have indicated the initial thinning of the choroid during the myopia progression might count a lot. The thinning of the choroid would influence the blood supply of the retina and sclera and accelerate the progression of myopia to high myopia, inducing the pathologic changes of the fundus. Since the treatment for pathological myopia is limited and cannot reverse the already existed visual impairment, preventive measures are necessary, including the attempts to delay the onset of myopia, to retard progression from mild myopia to high myopia and to retard the pathological changes of high myopia. Future researches should strengthen the understanding of the characteristics of pathologic changes of myopia, establish a predictive index system and a health management system to monitor early pathological changes, and promote early detection and intervention, so as to prevent fundus complications related to high myopia in multiple ways and avoid blindness and visual impairment caused by pathological fundus changes of myopia. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55:721-725).