34pc nearsighted reach a power of 500 in myopia

Nearly 30 percent of those with myopia have it at a power of 500 or above, according to a survey conducted by Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society.

The Society gathered 1,432 responses between August and September, with 34 percent of individuals suffering from severe myopia and there is a general lack of awareness about the serious effects of the condition.

It noted that severe myopia can lead to blindness, and children of parents with high myopia are at a greater risk of developing the condition themselves.

Among those with parents who also have high myopia, 68 percent were diagnosed before the age of 12, compared to 38 percent among those with parents with normal vision.

One patient shared that she developed myopia with a power of 400 to 500 in primary school, and her vision has deteriorated to only 30 percent now.

Emmy Li Yuen-mei, president of the Society, raised concern over the city's inadequate understanding of myopia, stating that more than 60 percent of respondents were unaware that nearsightedness reaching 500 degrees or above indicated severe myopia and related complications.

She said that individuals with myopia more than 500 degrees have a threefold increased risk of glaucoma, a 20 times higher risk of retinal detachment, and a 40 times higher risk of macular degeneration than those without myopia.

Li underlined that while more than half of the respondents believed that having laser eye surgery would alleviate linked complications, corrective eye surgery did not reduce the risk of eye disease.