high myopia

[malvika81]

Hello doctor,

I am 28 years of age, female, and I have high myopia (-17.5 in both eyes). I have had high power since childhood, but it has not increased so much in the past few years. It is almost static, and this last year my optometrist didnot give my a cylindrical also.
I have been wearing soft contact lenses for about 7 years now and do a lot of computer work, at least 6-7 hours a day as I am an editor.
Recently, i was having red eyes and discomfort, and my eye doctor diagnosed mild dry eyes syndrome in my right eye and my contacts were also infected. With discontinuing contact lenses for past 10 days, the redness has gone down a lot but I still find thin red veins in my eyes (particularly right eye) afetr a day's work. It clears a lot if I put cold compress.
I am going insane with tension about my eyes, Please let me know:

1) Can I still wear contacts? My marriage is in December.

2) Do I have anything much to worry about the veins showing and the dry eyes.

3) Are my corneas safe?

4) Can I work with computers as before (with occasional breaks in between hours) or will it make me lose my vision? Should I think of a change in profession?

Please help.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[AntonReiser]

Hello,
I am not a doctor, but just a fellow myopic.
1. I would not wear contacts for some time.
Try to get small glasses: glass width under 40 mm and refractive index 1.9, maybe lenticular glasses.
When your eyes have fully recovered you could try again with the contacts. Try other contacts which may be better for your corneas.
2./3. Be very careful with your corneas. Don't wear contacts too long per day. Keep your contacts absolutely neat and clean.
4. I would not consider a change in profession. Perhaps you could put your computer screen close to a window: you could relax your eyes by looking out of it.

Have your eyes regularly checked by an eye MD. Highly myopic eyes are in danger of retinal diseases.