Is Minus 4.75
High Myopia?
Not quite. Minus 4.75 is moderate myopia. The high band begins at about minus 6.00. What matters more than the label is whether the number is still moving.
Is minus 4.75 high myopia?
No. Minus 4.75 is classed as moderate myopia. High myopia is generally defined as minus 6.00 dioptres or stronger, although some organisations use minus 5.00. At minus 4.75, unaided vision is clear only to about 21 centimetres, and the long-term eye risks are higher than with low myopia but lower than in the high band.
- Band
- Moderate myopia
- Clear without glasses to
- About 21 cm
- High myopia starts at
- Minus 6.00
See Where Minus 4.75 Sits
The slider starts at minus 4.75. Drag it to see where each band begins.
Myopia band
Clear without glasses up to about …
Move the slider to see what the number means.
- Phone 30 cm
- Book 40 cm
- Laptop 60 cm
- TV 3 m
- Class board 5 m
- Road sign 20 m
Based on simple optics: the furthest clear distance is one metre divided by the power. Astigmatism and age change the real-world result.
How Myopia Is Graded
| Band | Power | Clear without glasses to |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Up to minus 3.00 | 33 cm or more |
| Moderate | Minus 3.00 to minus 5.75 | 17 to 33 cm |
| High | Minus 6.00 or stronger | Under 17 cm |
The bands are a convention. Risk rises smoothly with each dioptre, with no sudden step at minus 6.00.
Minus 4.75 in a Child and in an Adult
In a child or teenager, minus 4.75 with years of growth left is likely to cross into the high band without treatment. This is exactly the situation myopia control is for. See treatment for kids.
In an adult with a stable power, it is a matter of good correction and an eye examination that includes the retina every one to two years. It is well within the range for contact lenses, orthokeratology and refractive surgery.
Glasses power changed again this year? An assessment shows how fast it is moving and what can slow it.
Will It Reach the High Band?
For a child: set the age and last year's change to see the projected power at 18.
- If it carries on
- If the rise is halved
Move the sliders to draw the chart.
A simplified illustration that assumes progression slows through the teens. It is not a prediction for any individual child.
Sensible Steps at This Power
You do not need to restrict your life at minus 4.75.
- Keep prescriptions up to date so you are not straining
- Have the retina examined at routine eye checks
- Learn the warning signs: new floaters, flashes or a shadow
- For children, start myopia control and attend every review
Treatments
Common questions
- Can minus 2.5 eyesight be cured?
- At what age does myopia stop?
- Myopia in a 4-year-old
- How much does myopia control cost?
- Is minus 4.75 high myopia?
Questions Families Ask
What power is considered high myopia?
Is minus 4.75 eyesight bad?
Can minus 4.75 be corrected with LASIK?
Is minus 5 high myopia?
Find Out Where the Power Is Heading
A myopia assessment measures the current power, checks how the eyes focus and work together, and sets out the options that fit. In clinic in Chennai and Hyderabad, with online consultations across India.