Pathological myopia 22/03/2013

What is pathological myopia?

Myopia is a state of abnormal eye growth associated with degenerative changes in its structure. It is believed that pathological myopia, when the refractive error exceeds six dioptres, is caused by an alteration in the development of the eye's posterior segment and different complications can appear, such as chorioretinal atrophy, myopic maculopathy and retinal detachment.

This illness, which can increase in adulthood, has a large hereditary component that progresses over time and is characterised by little improvement in visual acuity in spite of using prescription lenses.

Patients with myopia have a high risk of developing retinal pathologies, such as macular disorders or a detached retina, so they must be regularly checked to detect any possible injury.

How is it treated? 

A thorough ophthalmological examination is required, including a retina scan, autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography and, in some cases, fluorescein angiography.

In those cases where retinal complications are diagnosed resulting from myopia, each patient will received personalised treatment that may require intravitreal injections, laser photocoagulation or vitreoretinal surgery.

Technology and research: two fundamental elements for the visual health of our patients. In its mission to offer its patients the best and most innovative treatments, the Institut de la Màcula, thanks to its extensive experience in the development and use of the Fusion protocol for cases of exudative AMD, has also developed other protocols for secondary neovascular membranes to pathological myopia that help to halt the damage caused by this illness.