VISUAL FIELD CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH MYOPIA

Abstract

The visual field defects are present in the high myopic eyes and they arc related to the degree of high myopia, the age of the patient, and the severity of the posterior polar lesion (Ductal, 1995).

So, we studied 106 eyes of 58 highly myopic patients attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Ophthalmic Department of Assiut University Hospital, aiming to detect the factors that may affect the development of visual field defects in high myopic eyes. Each case was subjected to full ophthalmic examination. Age, sex, best corrected visual acuity, error of refraction, slit lamp biomicroscopic examination, indirect fundus examination, applanation tonomclly, A-scan axial length measurement and automated perimetry were perfonncd and registered.

The main aim of the study was to detect and assess the visual field changes in high myopia. Blind spot size was found enlarged in 64.15% of eyes, 17% were ha\ ng deep generalized depression and their blind spot size could not be detected, and 18.86% were having normal sized blind spot. The enlargement of the blind spot was found to have a positive relationship with the axial length elongation, age progressiOn. Also the size and type of crescent were found to affect the size of the blind spot.

Arcuate scotoma was found in 24.5% of the st11died eyes, its incidence was found to increase v. th the axial length elongation, and with the occurrence of posterior staphyloma.