Will parents’ severe myopia really be passed down to the next generation?

If both parents are severely myopic, they will worry that their children will be passed on their myopia. But is severe myopia really hereditary?

What is high myopia?

According to the classification of myopia degrees, myopia below 600 degrees is called low-moderate myopia; myopia greater than 600 degrees is called high myopia; and myopia above 1000 degrees is called super-high myopia.

Classification of Myopia

1. Simple myopia: The degree of myopia is high, but it tends to stabilize after adulthood and is not accompanied by fundus lesions that cause irreversible visual damage.

2. Pathological myopia: Myopia will progress throughout life, accompanied by irreversible visual damage and fundus lesions.

Under what circumstances can myopia be inherited?

Zhu Lina, director of Tianjin University Aier Eye Hospital, said that high myopia is hereditary to a certain extent, but it is not absolute. Parents with myopia of more than 600 degrees will not necessarily pass it on to their children. Only when parents carry the myopia gene will it be passed on to their children. High myopia is an autosomal recessive genetic disease. One of the genes of the parents is pathogenic, while the other gene is normal and will not cause the disease.

From a genetic perspective, a child with both parents being myopic is at a greater risk than one with only one, and a child with only one parent being myopic is more likely to inherit the disease than one without both parents.

Daily precautions for high myopia

1. Avoid strenuous exercise

People with severe myopia should avoid strenuous exercise, especially activities that have a great impact on the eyes or cause obvious concussion, such as boxing, bungee jumping, high jumping, and even some violent shaking games in amusement parks.

2. Take more vitamins

The formation of high myopia is closely related to diet. Most myopic people have low blood calcium and lack vitamin A. It is recommended that people with high myopia pay attention to supplementing vitamins, calcium, zinc and other trace elements on a daily basis and control sugar intake. Excessive sugar and high carbohydrates will reduce the elasticity of intraocular tissues.

3. Regular inspection

It is recommended that people with high myopia undergo regular fundus examinations for early detection and treatment.

4. Pay attention to proper eye use

In addition to regular fundus examinations, people with high myopia should wear a pair of suitable glasses in their daily lives to prevent their myopia from getting worse. At the same time, they should pay attention to using their eyes moderately and avoid using their eyes at close range for a long time.