AIM:To describe the prevalence and analysis on relevant factors of low vision and blindness in high myopic patients.

METHODS: A total of 612 high myopic patients(1111 eyes)treated in our hospital from Jan. 2010 to Dec. 2013, whose spherical equivalents ≤-6.0D and axial lengths ≥25.5 mm, were enrolled in the study. World Health Organization(WHO)standard was used for low vision and blindness, the clinical data of all enrolled patients were analyzed retrospectively. Additionally, the relative factors including age, sex, axial length, posterior staphyloma and family history were analyzed by multiple logistic regression to find out the possible risk factors associated with low vision and blindness.

RESULTS: WHO standard was used, 86 eyes(7.7%)were blindness, and 172 eyes(15.5%)were low vision respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that low vision and blindness in high myopic patients was independently associated with age, axial length and posterior staphyloma(P<0.05). It was not associated with gender and family history of high myopia(P>0.05). Twenty-one eyes(9.1%)and 51 eyes(12.5%)had visual impairment in age 6-20 and age 21-40, respectively. Amblyopia was the most frequent cause of visual impairment in the two groups, 17 eyes(81.0%)in age 6-20 and 30 eyes(58.8%)in age 21-40, respectively. One hundred and five eyes(32.5%)and 81 eyes(54.4%)had visual impairment in age 41-60 and >60 respectively. Fundus lesions were the most frequent cause of visual impairment in the two groups, 86 eyes(81.9%)in age 41-60 and 75 eyes(92.6%)in age >60 respectively.

CONCLUSION: High myopia injure the vision of patients seriously. Age, axial length and posterior staphyloma are independent risk factors associated with low vision and blindness in high myopic patients. Amblyopia is the most frequent cause of visual impairment for adolescents, and fundus lesions is the most frequent cause for middle-aged and elderly men.