Degenerative myopia is not the simple myopia (nearsightedness) that many eye patients have. It is a severe form of nearsightedness that is characterized by progressive thinning of the retina with subsequent vision loss. While there is no treatment or prevention for degenerative myopia, regular dilated examinations are required to look for other treatable complications. These include retinal detachment, macular hole, and choroidal neovascularization (somewhat similar to what one would see in the wet form of macular degeneration). Please refer to the other sections of the Eye Diseases & Disorders on this website for more information regarding these specific complications.