Hole in retina, CAN I go for LASIK to reduce Myopia

[Weak_retina]

First of all this column is very nice, Until today i used to think i am the only one out of those people who have such a bad retina!!!
I am 27 years old. I have very high Myopia (-12.00) in each eye. My retina is really weak, which I found out almost 10 years ago. I have been going to retina specialist since i have found out the problem. I have even visited different country to get diagnose but never did research on the web. My retina is almost 85% damaged in simple terms. I had never seen any floaters before but from last 3 to 4 years, i have been seeing them & got used of it.
Serveral docs have advised me about my retina problem. Some say i should use lasik and sealed it before something goes wrong. Other specialist thinks i may not run into problem ever and if it is not break DO NOT fix it.
In ten years, my vision is not improved but has weakened. With floater and prescriptions. One thing i noticed is my stigmatism has reduced in left eye (Almost gone) and completely gone from right eye.
I was wondering can i do LASIK to reduce my myopia? or lasik to fix my retina.
Please note i am at high risk of retina detachment but docs are not sure? And ya if there is a good institute of Eye research near NJ, NY, VA, MD where they check some special cases like me would like to go and check it out.
Thanks for your time and reply.

[Forum-OD-MP]

okay LASIK *would* reduce your myopia, but it would have NO EFFECT AT ALL on your retina.  LASIK is not a retinal surgery.  if you had LASIK, you would be less nearsighted, thats true.  but you would continue to have the exact same retinal problems as you are having right now.  there would be no change in the status of your retina.  you would still be going to the retinal specialist frequently, and you would still be at the exact same risk for retinal holes, tears, and detachment.

LASIK traditionally doesnt work very well on -12.00.  there is a strong probability that you would either not be a candidate (cornea too thin to get -12.00 out of it) or you would still need glasses/contacts/etc after the surgery.

there *are* laser surgeries for retinal damage from high myopia.  but they are not "LASIK" and they do not reduce your myopia at all.  they only kind of "tack down" retina to stop current retinal holes or tears or detachments, or prevent future retinal tears or holes or detachments.  the laser surgery to fix your retina is totally different than LASIK.  different laser, different part of your eye, different goal, different result, etc.

every -12.00 patient is at high risk for retinal detachment.  you would still be at high risk for retinal detachment if you had LASIK.

[Weak_retina]

LAST request please give me some good institute in east cost for retina specialist,
DO you advice while going for laser to correct retina holes/tear if detachment is not happen yet? Is that will reduce the risk for detachment in the future? I was told my retina is 85% damaged, is there any way i can prevent detachment. For example by going through laser treatment which will sealed the holes /tears for now. What are the chances of the study that effected area once perform laser will not get tear further? Are there any studies for it (Any research number), or what does most of the retina specialist believe. If retina has holes/tears is it good to patch it before it gets worse or do not touch it.

Once again, please give me some good institute or university who does research for retina and take some cases like mine.

Thanks a lot.

[Ag-i-doc]

yeah.  my alma mater STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY in Manhattan.  They're the best IMO.

there are a lot of different opiions on who needs retinal laser surgery and who doesnt, and whether or not to perform laser surgery to try and "prevent" problems or wait until problems occur before fixing them.  it totally depends on who you ask.

i am not a surgeon so i am not even going to attempt answering whether or not you need laser retinal surgery right now.  i dont know about "studeis" etc pertaining to this problem...

[Weak_retina]

Thanks a lot for your reply, you don’t know it means a lot to people with real prblems.

As you said i understand LASIK for Myopia correction is different from lasik for retinal tear/hole correction.
my concern is while going to LASIK is there chance that it can damaged my retina further?
I do not have cornea problem but i would like to reduce my current prescription at least to half of it. I am afraid that while having LASIK surgery how much i am risking my retina?
I understand complete prescription will not go away but reducing to some from –12 is also blessing.

OR
If i do not go for LASIK to correct MYOPIA but to correct tears/holes in retina, how much risk i am at that in the future it may not happen or happens while i am being operated. Do they use only laser beams only!
i am scared of RD happens to me then my vision will be less that what it is even with contact lens i see only 20/25 NOT 20/20.

[Ag-i-doc]

almost no -12.00 sees 20/20 thru anything.  i wouldnt let that concern you.  20/25 is good vision.

there is no "lasik for your retina".  lasik is only performed on the cornea.  the laser surgeries for your retina are not called "lasik".

you could almost certainly reduce your myopia to -6.00 ("half").  but it has been my experience that most patients who do this are not satisfied.  before the surgery they think "half" would be great, but after the surgery they are almost always disappointed with "half".  -6.00 is still not that good.  still nowhere close to 20/20.  still nowhere close to reading the "big E" on the eyechart (20/400).  in fact at -6.00 you would still be barely seeing a hand wave in front of your face at 5 or so feet, much less reading any letters.

having lasik performed on your CORNEA to reduce myopia does not, in my opinion, significantly raise your risk for future RETINAL problems.

[EyeSee]

I had the same retinal surgery you had Apr 14 2006 on my left eye.  Vision -5 before now about -11 but wavy and blurred with spots.  Other eye has several small holes and doctor highly recommends laser on it now to prevent detachment.  Another retina specialist and two online opthamolgists concur.  I had that done May 4th but only got half way through as his machine went out of order.  I go back next week to finish.  It is not very pleasant procedure but eye seemed fine next day though very light sensitive for next day.  I do relate to your concerns.  Let me know how your surgery eye is coming along.

[marieta]

Hello!

Looks like I am very experienced in retinal detachments, lazik and eye surgery. :) I have severe myopia since I was a kid -9 Left eye and – 10 Right eye. My Lazik for retinal detachment /left eye/ and my surgery (scleral buckle in right eye) were two months ago. Both are successful. At least, so far.

My both doctors said lazik for reducing myopia after 2 surgeries and holes in maculas is more than craziness. Does anybody have the same problems?

Thank you so much to everybody who responds me!!!

Marieta