We describe early features of choroidal neovascularization in 50 pathologically myopic eyes. The eyes were classified into three categories on the basis of degree of myopic chorioretinal degeneration in the posterior pole: mild diffuse atrophy, severe diffuse atrophy and focal atrophy. Choroidal neovascular membranes (CNMs) were grouped into a minimally leaking type and a markedly leaking type in fluorescein angiographic patterns. CNMs were more frequently associated with the mild diffuse atrophy than with the other atrophies. Of the markedly leaking CNMs, 83% were seen in eyes with mild myopic chorioretinal degeneration and 78.5% of the minimal leaking CNMs were found in eyes with severe myopic chorioretinal degeneration. In association with CNMs, lacquer crack and the granular hypofluorescein lesions were observed in 72% and 40%, respectively. The visual acuity deteriorated in all of the 14 eyes which could be followed up more than 1 year.