Can low-degree myopia cause retinal detachment?

Good retina

It was taken off suddenly!

Myopia is no more than 200 degrees

There are always shadows and ripples floating before my eyes

Cold cough, use more force

How come everything turns black in front of my eyes?

Is “Internet deprivation” an alarmist statement?

Or is it really an "invisible killer"?

01 What is retinal detachment

The retina is equivalent to the photosensitive film in a camera. It is responsible for receiving external light stimuli and transmitting signals to the brain, thereby producing the clear images we see.

The retina is attached to the back wall of the eyeball. It is a transparent film with a complex structure. It is composed of the neuroepithelium and the pigment epithelium. If the two layers separate, we call it retinal detachment . The detached retina cannot perceive light stimulation, which will cause the image received by the eye to be incomplete or completely missing.

02 Will severe myopia cause neuropathy?

Myopia is a high-risk factor for retinal detachment, especially for high myopia. The higher the refractive power, the greater the risk. This does not mean that patients with lower myopia will not suffer from retinal detachment.

The eyeball of a myopic person is longer than a normal eyeball. When the refractive power of the eyeball increases, the eye axis lengthens, the back wall of the eyeball gradually expands, the retina of the fundus becomes thinner, and the weaker areas around it will cause holes to form retinal holes, which in turn pulls the retina and easily leads to retinal detachment. This is related to congenital factors such as retinal elasticity.

Therefore, patients with moderate and low myopia should also check their fundus regularly, including the peripheral fundus.

03 A cold and cough can cause you to be offline?

Severe coughing can cause the liquefied vitreous to have a certain impact on the retina. If there are already deformed or broken areas on the retina at this time, the fluid from the vitreous can enter the retina through the retinal holes, which may cause retinal detachment.

04 Symptoms of retinal detachment

Most people will experience black shadows floating in front of their eyes before retinal detachment, which will gradually worsen. They will also experience flashes , which are similar to electrical discharge flashes.

As detachment occurs and progresses, there will be a fixed curtain-like black shadow blocking the field of vision in a certain direction. The range of the black shadow gradually increases and may extend toward the center of the field of vision. Eventually, vision will be severely reduced , and the eyeball may even atrophy and cause blindness.

05 How to prevent it?

1. Avoid excessive use of eyes, pay attention to the combination of work and rest, prevent myopia, especially high myopia, and have regular refractive examinations.

2. For high-risk groups, it is recommended to conduct routine mydriasis examination of the fundus every six months to one year. Laser sealing treatment can be performed if retinal holes or degeneration areas are found early.

3. Patients with high myopia or who have recently completed laser closure of retinal holes should avoid strenuous exercise and heavy physical labor to prevent the occurrence of retinal detachment.

4. Prevent eye injuries.

5. Actively control primary diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, uveitis, etc.

6. If you experience flashes of light or blurred vision, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Li Chaohui, director of the Department of Ophthalmology at Wuhan University Aier Eye Hospital, reminded that although retinal detachment is an eye disease with a very high blindness rate, it can be cured if it is discovered early and treated promptly. The duration of onset directly affects the choice of surgical method and the recovery of postoperative vision. The earlier it is discovered and treated, the better the effect.