Extreme myopia

I am extremely myopic and have been since I was a baby (around -21 in both eyes) ... I wear glasses and contact lenses that are not my actual prescription because apparently lenses and glasses do not go to such high prescriptions. I am considering having LASIK done but need to be know if there is any such risk as my numbers are so high? Also will LASIK only reduce my numbers or will it eradicate them?
Please help me out in my dilemma... my optician keeps telling me to wait a few more years till the technology of such operations is less risky. But I cannot drive due to my myopia so it is definitely a hinderance.

Many thanks

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

Lasik will not cure your problem. The max that lasik will usually fix with a thick cornea is about -8.0  

The only way to get rid of the total myopia would be phakic IOL involves risk of infection, bleeding, cataract or cornea demage.

OR refractive lens exchanges. This takes your lens out of your eye and replaces it with an IOL. If monofocal you will need no line bifocals for near antermedicate vision.

I suspect that multifocal IOLs are not available in your power

Nothing is risk free.

JCHMD

[tim223]

I think your optician is probably right about putting off surgery (it also depends
on your age). But you have certainly been misinformed about glasses and contact
lenses at high prescriptions. They can easily be made up to -25 or even -30
diopters. If you want, you can PM me for further information.

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

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