07 Dec What is the highest number of shortsightedness in diopters (sphere) and the highest diopter of astigmatism (cylinder)?
There is a better way to think about the issue of “how bad can astigmatism and/or myopia (shortsightedness) be?” The median (half being worse and half being better) degree of myopia in North America is about -3 Diopters. [This is based on contact lens sales.] High myopia is roughly considered to be about -6 D. Very high is about -6 to -10. And extreme myopia can be considered to be approximately over -10 D.
Most everybody has at least some small degree of astigmatism, but over 3 D of astigmatism is considered to be significant. In cases of keratoconus or past corneal surgery, it is possible (although rare) to see astigmatism even greater than 5 D.
While it is actually quite unusual in the general population, we regularly see patients come to see us with over -14 Diopters of myopia!
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.