High myopia (commonly beyond −6 dioptres) means thick glasses and also higher long-term risks to the retina. Vision-correction options include LASIK within limits, PRK and ICL — but retinal health must be assessed first, and no single procedure fits everyone.
What is high myopia?
\nIn myopia the eye is effectively "too long" for its focusing power, so distant objects blur. Beyond about −6 dioptres it is termed high myopia: glasses become thick and heavy, contact lenses less comfortable for some, and — importantly — the stretched retina carries higher lifetime risks of retinal tears, detachment, myopic macular changes and slightly higher risks of glaucoma and earlier cataract.
\nEye health comes first
\nRefractive surgery changes how light is focused; it does not shorten the eye or remove these retinal risks. Before any vision-correction discussion, higher myopes need a dilated retinal examination — and periodic retinal checks thereafter, whatever correction they choose. Symptoms such as a shower of floaters, flashes of light or a curtain over vision need same-day retinal evaluation.
\nVision-correction options for high power
\n| Option | Considerations in high myopia |
|---|---|
| Glasses / contact lenses | Always valid; high-index lenses and modern contacts manage most powers |
| LASIK | Possible only within safe thickness limits; higher corrections remove more tissue |
| PRK | Flap-free option where corneas are thinner; haze risk rises with higher corrections |
| ICL | Often the strongest option for high powers — cornea untouched, excellent optics, removable |
Why one procedure does not fit everyone
\nTwo patients with identical spectacle power can receive entirely different recommendations because their corneal thickness, corneal shape, chamber depth, tear film and retinal findings differ. This is precisely why the evaluation — not the number — drives the decision. How eligibility is decided.
Information on this page is for general education and does not replace an examination, diagnosis or personalised medical advice from a qualified eye-care professional.
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