congenital high myopia - prognosis

[chaya2013]

My daughter was born with congenital high myopia (-10 both eyes). The doctor said she has severe myopic coroidosis (What's that?). With seven months she was -12 . I am very worried. What can I expect from her future? Can she have a normal life? Does she have high chances of going blind? She is a very smart little girl, and I´m very afraid that she is not going to have a independent life. Do you have patients in the same situation? thanks a lot.

[Doreen Fazio, M.D.]

Your daughter can absolutely have a normal, happy, independent life with the high myopia.  The biggest risks from this condition are retinal detachment and myopic degeneration of the macula (sight center of the retina).  She should be monitored frequently by a retina specialist, and see the specialist immediately if she notices any flashes of light or new onset floaters (retinal detachment symptoms), or distortion of central vision (myopic macular degeneration symptoms).

[chaya2013]

Dear doctor, thank you very much. Just one more question. She was with -12 in october/2013. Last week (april/2014) she was with -16 !!! This was a huge increase and she is just 1 year. Her doctor sad that she was worried about this increase. (Imagine how I felt!) . Usually the diopters keep increasing until adulthood. What is the limit for the diopters? Im so frightened. Can the retina operates at such high degrees?

[chaya2013]

I forgot to mention that she doesn´t have retinopathy of prematuring. Although the doctor said she has a very thin retina and that her vitreous humor is liquid.