{"id":2767,"date":"2026-08-19T03:19:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T03:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/?p=2767"},"modified":"2026-08-19T03:19:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T03:19:29","slug":"high-myopia-20-4-precautions-you-must-know-jaipur-eye-dental-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/high-myopia-20-4-precautions-you-must-know-jaipur-eye-dental-hospital\/","title":{"rendered":"High Myopia (-20): 4 Precautions You Must Know | Jaipur Eye &#038; Dental Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>META: A -20 glasses number (high myopia) isn&#8217;t just about thick lenses; it increases retinal detachment risk by over 5-6 times. Learn 4 essential precautions.<\/p>\n<p>Seeing the world through glasses with a -20 prescription is a reality for those with very high myopia. But this number represents more than just difficulty seeing without glasses; it signals a significant structural risk to your eye&#8217;s health, particularly the retina. Understanding and taking specific precautions is not just advisable\u2014it&#8217;s essential for preserving long-term vision.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#e8f4fd;padding:1em;border-left:4px solid #0077b6;margin:1em 0;\"><strong>Quick Answer:<\/strong> For individuals with high myopia (like a -20 number), four critical precautions are mandatory: get annual retina check-ups (not just glasses tests), wear protective eyewear during sports, avoid aggressive eye rubbing, and immediately report warning signs like new floaters, light flashes, or a curtain-like shadow in your vision.<\/div>\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:1.5em 0;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/laBMucvSWPo\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2>Why is a -20 Number a Major Concern?<\/h2>\n<p>A -20 spectacle number signifies severe myopia, where the eyeball has elongated significantly. This stretching thins the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, making it more fragile and prone to developing tears or holes. The risk of a retinal detachment is five to six times greater in people with high myopia compared to those with low myopia. This is why we shift focus from just correcting vision to actively protecting the retina.<\/p>\n<h2>What Are the Essential Precautions for High Myopia?<\/h2>\n<p>At Jaipur Eye &#038; Dental Hospital, we counsel families with a history of high myopia to adopt four non-negotiable habits. These steps are simple, but they are the most effective defense against the severe complications associated with a highly myopic eye. Proactive monitoring and protection are key to managing the inherent risks.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.5em 0;text-align:center;\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/infographic_step_by_step_20260819_031823_721707.png\" alt=\"An infographic showing four key precautions for patients with high myopia, including annual retina checks, wearing protective eyewear, avoiding eye rubbing, and knowing the warning signs of retinal detachment.\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px;\" \/><figcaption style=\"font-size:0.85em;color:#666;margin-top:0.5em;\">Four critical steps every person with high myopia should take to protect their vision.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>How Often Should You Get Your Retina Checked?<\/h2>\n<p>For anyone with high myopia, a simple &#8220;glasses number&#8221; check-up once a year is not enough. You must undergo a comprehensive, dilated retinal examination annually. During this exam, an ophthalmologist uses special lenses to inspect the peripheral retina for any signs of thinning, lattices, or small holes. Detecting these issues early allows for preventive laser treatment (barrage laser) to seal the weak spots and prevent a full-blown detachment.<\/p>\n<h2>What Warning Signs Require Immediate Medical Attention?<\/h2>\n<p>You and your family must be educated on the symptoms of a retinal tear or detachment. If you suddenly experience a shower of new floaters (black dots), flashes of light (like a camera flash), or see a dark, curtain-like shadow creeping into your field of vision, do not wait. This is a medical emergency. Go to an eye hospital immediately, as prompt treatment is critical to saving your vision.<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Can LASIK be done for a -20 number?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"No, LASIK is generally not an option for powers as high as -20. The procedure has limits based on corneal thickness. However, other options like Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL) may be suitable for correcting such high refractive errors after a thorough evaluation.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Does high myopia risk get passed on to children?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes, there is a strong genetic component to high myopia. If one or both parents have high numbers, their children are at a significantly increased risk and should have their eyes checked regularly from an early age to monitor for progression.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is a barrage laser treatment?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Barrage laser is a preventive, in-clinic procedure where a laser is used to create a barrier of tiny burns around a weak spot or tear in the retina. This 'welds' the retina to the underlying tissue, preventing fluid from getting underneath and causing a detachment.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"LocalBusiness\",\n  \"name\": \"Jaipur Eye & Dental Hospital\",\n  \"url\": \"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\",\n  \"telephone\": \"+917976551251\"\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7ff;padding:1.2em;border-radius:8px;margin:1.5em 0;\">\n<strong>Have questions? Book a consultation:<\/strong><br \/>\nCall <a href=\"tel:+917976551251\">+91 7976551251<\/a> or visit<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\" target=\"_blank\">jaipureyedental.com<\/a>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>META: A -20 glasses number (high myopia) isn&#8217;t just about thick lenses; it increases retinal detachment risk by over 5-6 times. Learn 4 essential precautions&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2769,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[230,21,105,338,107],"class_list":["post-2767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-dr-amit-gupta","tag-eye-care","tag-high-myopia","tag-patient-education","tag-retinal-detachment"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169.png",1024,576,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169-300x169.png",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169-768x432.png",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169.png",1024,576,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169.png",1024,576,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169.png",1024,576,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169-800x450.png",800,450,true],"blog-card":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169-800x450.png",800,450,true],"blog-hero":["https:\/\/blog.jaipureyedental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/high_myopia_-20_4_precautio_linkedin_20260819_031857_983169.png",1024,576,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Dr. Amit Gupta MS Ophthalmology","author_link":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/author\/dramitgupta\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"META: A -20 glasses number (high myopia) isn&#8217;t just about thick lenses; it increases retinal detachment risk by over 5-6 times. Learn 4 essential precautions....","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2767"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2768,"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2767\/revisions\/2768"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaipureyedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}