Infant in Shaanxi, China Diagnosed with 1,000‑Degree Severe Myopia

A five‑month‑old baby in Shaanxi province, China, was diagnosed with extreme myopia of about 1,000 diopters during a routine eye examination. Doctors at a pediatric eye centre in Xi'an said the case is the youngest and most severe of its kind they have recorded, prompting alarm among ophthalmologists.

The condition is linked to strong genetic factors; children whose parents both have high myopia have a 30‑50% chance of inheriting severe refractive errors. Specialists warned that early detection is critical to slow progression and prevent serious complications such as retinal detachment, cataract and glaucoma. They urged parents, especially those with a family history of myopia, to have infants examined promptly, limit screen exposure, and encourage outdoor activity to protect eye health.