Complications of high myopia: An update from clinical manifestations to underlying mechanisms.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of mechanisms and clinical features without systematic search criteria or primary data
PubMed 39036706 · doi:10.1016/j.aopr.2024.06.003
What was done
This paper reviews the clinical manifestations and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying complications associated with high myopia, including lens pathologies, maculopathies, glaucoma, and extra-ocular associations.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, odds ratios, or risk estimates. It qualitatively describes high myopia complications including early cataractogenesis, lens overgrowth, weakened zonules, capsular contraction, maculopathy, choroidal neovascularization, retinal detachment, and increased risk of open-angle glaucoma and intraocular pressure spikes. Dome-shaped macula and cilioretinal arteries are described as protective factors for central vision. Anxiety is identified as an extra-ocular complication, with shared inflammatory signaling proposed across visual pathways and the central nervous system.
Why it matters
It provides an updated clinical overview of the multi-systemic ocular and psychological burdens of high myopia, suggesting anti-inflammatory pathways as a potential area for future investigation.
Limits
The abstract contains no quantitative metrics, sample sizes, or systematic review methodology. Proposed mechanistic links, including the relationship between ocular changes, systemic inflammation, and anxiety, are theoretical and lack reported empirical validation.
Cited by
- supports Severe myopia causes the eyeball to elongate, stretching the retina and increasing the risk of retinal tears and macular degeneration later in life.