title: Updates of pathologic myopia.
abstract: Complications from pathologic myopia are a major cause of visual impairment and blindness, especially in east Asia. The eyes with pathologic myopia may develop loss of the best-corrected vision due to various pathologies in the macula, peripheral retina and the optic nerve. Despite its importance, the definition of pathologic myopia has been inconsistent. The refractive error or axial length alone often does not adequately reflect the 'pathologic myopia'. Posterior staphyloma, which is a hallmark lesion of pathologic myopia, can occur also in non-highly myopic eyes. Recently a revised classification system for myopic maculopathy has been proposed to standardize the definition among epidemiological studies. In this META-PM (meta analyses of pathologic myopia) study classification, pathologic myopia was defined as the eyes having chorioretinal atrophy equal to or more severe than diffuse atrophy. In addition, the advent of new imaging technologies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and three dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D MRI) has enabled the detailed observation of various pathologies specific to pathologic myopia. New therapeutic approaches including intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents and the advance of vitreoretinal surgeries have greatly improved the prognosis of patients with pathologic myopia. The purpose of this review article is to provide an update on topics related to the field of pathologic myopia, and to outline the remaining issues which need to be solved in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 1138510, Japan. Electronic address: k.ohno.oph@tmd.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohno-Matsui
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, 147K Argyle Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Timothy Y Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, No.5, Fuxing Street, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 33305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Singapore National Eye Center, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chiu Ming Gemmy
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Choroidal neovascularization; Myopic maculopathy; Optic nerve changes; Pathologic myopia; Posterior staphyloma