Is -5.00 Myopia Bad?
Short answer: −5.00D is high myopia territory. At this level, axial length typically exceeds 26mm — the threshold where retinal thinning and structural complications become a real long-term concern. Annual dilated eye examinations by an ophthalmologist are the standard of care.
Where -5.00 sits in the risk spectrum
Myopia severity is better understood through axial length (the physical length of the eye in millimetres) than through the diopter number alone. Two people can have the same prescription from different amounts of axial elongation — and axial length is what determines long-term structural risk, not the diopter number itself.
| Prescription | Approx. axial length | Structural risk category |
|---|---|---|
| -1.00D | ~24.2mm | Low |
| -2.00D | ~24.7mm | Low–Moderate |
| -3.00D | ~25.2mm | Moderate |
| -4.00D | ~25.8mm | Moderate–High |
| -5.00D | ~26.1mm | High |
| -6.00D | ~26.6mm | High (IMI threshold) |
| -8.00D | ~27.5mm | Very High |
| -10.00D | ~29.0mm | Extreme |
AL–refraction mapping is approximate (±2–3D individual variation). Based on Flitcroft 2012; Tideman et al. 2016. Your row is highlighted.
Clinical perspective
At −5.00D, axial length is approximately 25.9–26.4mm. This places many −5.00D patients at or above the 26mm structural threshold. Tideman et al. 2016 showed that eyes at or above 26mm have approximately 3–5× the risk of retinal detachment compared to eyes below 24mm. Peripheral retinal lattice degeneration and other structural changes are more common at this level.
For parents: what this means for a child at -5.00
A child who has reached −5.00D has likely already experienced several years of rapid progression. The clinical priority now is both stopping further elongation and establishing appropriate retinal surveillance. High myopia by adulthood significantly increases lifetime complication risk.
What to do at -5.00
Any child still progressing at −5.00D needs aggressive management. For adults, −5.00D is stable with appropriate monitoring. LASIK candidacy at this level requires careful corneal thickness assessment.
Calculate your exact progression rate
Enter age and two axial length measurements. Get progression rate, AL percentile, and projected prescription at age 18 — with and without treatment.
Check progression now →This page is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Diopter-to-axial-length conversions are approximations (±2–3D individual variation). MyopiaTracker is a decision-support tool — not a diagnostic device. Consult a qualified optometrist or ophthalmologist for personalised advice.