High Myopia Progression and Visual Impairment in a Nonselected Group of Danish 14-Year-Olds Followed Over 40 Years

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to study the prevalence of peripheral retinal findings in adult Chinese patients with high myopia (refraction ≤-6.00 D) and to investigate the correlation between the retinal lesions and the severity of myopia or axial length. Methods. A cross-sectional prevalence survey screening was conducted in high ethnic Chinese myopes with refractions equal to or less than -6.00 D. The examinations included cycloplegic refraction, A and B scan ultrasonography, and retinal examinations by indirect ophthalmoscopy with scleral indentation and Goldmann three-mirror contact lens examination. Results. Two hundred thirteen eyes in 213 patients with a mean refraction of -10.10 ± 4.23 D (range = -6.00 to -27.00 D) were examined. The mean axial length was 26.69 ± 1.68 mm (range = 25.18–33.62 mm) and the mean age was 33.5 ± 10.6 years (range = 18–73 years). The most common peripheral retinal finding was pigmentary degeneration (51.2%), followed by lattice degeneration in 12.2% and retinal holes in 7.5% of eyes. A positive correlation was noted between axial length and the lesions of pigmentary degeneration and pavingstone degeneration. The prevalence of retinal holes was 6.4% and 30.0% in eyes with axial length of <30 mm and ≥30 mm, respectively (chi-squared test, p = 0.006). Conclusion. A high prevalence of peripheral retinal degenerations was found in adult Chinese high myopes. The presence of retinal holes was positively correlated with very high myopia of an axial length of ≥30 mm.