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Help: Severe myopia
Hi! Can you help me?
My wife suffers from severe myopia: she has -19 (maybe -19.5) in her right eye and -11 diopters in her left eye and astigmatism.
She uses contact lenses. Since the lenses brand she uses have no more than 15 diopters, she still has vision difficulties. We wanted to see glasses, too, but the glasees wouldn't cope with the very big difference of almost 5 dipters between the right and left eye. She wants to find out some kind of sugery.
What may be the best kind of surgery for her?
Is LASIK suitable for her?
Thank you very much for helping!
My wife suffers from severe myopia: she has -19 (maybe -19.5) in her right eye and -11 diopters in her left eye and astigmatism.
She uses contact lenses. Since the lenses brand she uses have no more than 15 diopters, she still has vision difficulties. We wanted to see glasses, too, but the glasees wouldn't cope with the very big difference of almost 5 dipters between the right and left eye. She wants to find out some kind of sugery.
What may be the best kind of surgery for her?
Is LASIK suitable for her?
Thank you very much for helping!
Do you know of a procedure like this currently in the works?
The only thing that will help is a procedure to shorten the elongated eye. I happen to believe that something will come up within the not to distant future to this effect. Fingers crossed!
Hi everyone!
Thank you so much. You were very helpful. My wife has bought a pair of glasses that will help her whenever necessary, cause she souldn't use contact lenses all the time and since we considered (with your help, too) that it wouldn't be a good idea to go for surgery right now.
I believe we'll have to leave with that, for now. I hope she keeps stable and it doesn't get any worse. You know, we went today to the shop where she has got her brand new glasses and she is getting use to it.
Maybe one day there will be any better process for her.
Thank you!
Thank you so much. You were very helpful. My wife has bought a pair of glasses that will help her whenever necessary, cause she souldn't use contact lenses all the time and since we considered (with your help, too) that it wouldn't be a good idea to go for surgery right now.
I believe we'll have to leave with that, for now. I hope she keeps stable and it doesn't get any worse. You know, we went today to the shop where she has got her brand new glasses and she is getting use to it.
Maybe one day there will be any better process for her.
Thank you!
With that level of myopia, you should not be doing anything surgical with your eyes. The risks are WAAAAAAAAAAY to high for her. Search more on pathological myopia on this forum and you will see why. This is a very bad idea and it should be abandoned immediately.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Just to be complete, a phakic IOL is actually removable but that's not really a major selling point. It does carry the risk of a retinal detachement (somewhere in the 5% range) for someone as myopic as your wife so a very thorough retinal exam by a retinal specialist, would be in order before surgery. Also there is a fairly small risk of inflammation, infection and corneal swelling as well as the fact that a cataract can begin to form in some cases due to the implant rubbing against the actual crystalen lens. If she ever decides to think about this option it would really be in her best interest to find a very experienced surgeon.
MJK MD
MJK MD
You may want to investigate Implantable Lenses.
Who Benefits Most from this type of Eye Procedure?
People with very high degrees of nearsightedness or farsightedness, beyond what is easily corrected with laser surgery options which alter the
corneal curvature
Specific Advantages of Implantable Lenses
Correction for very high degrees of nearsightedness and farsightedness (Low and moderate ranges of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are also correctable with implantable lenses)
Predictable outcomes, even in high corrections
Fast visual stabilization
Does not alter the tissue of the cornea
Minimal side effects
Can be combined with other corrective options
Removable
The Implantable Lens correction procedure was approved by the Health Protection Branch of the Canadian Federal government in June 2001 and by the US FDA in January 2006.
Hope this helps:
Who Benefits Most from this type of Eye Procedure?
People with very high degrees of nearsightedness or farsightedness, beyond what is easily corrected with laser surgery options which alter the
corneal curvature
Specific Advantages of Implantable Lenses
Correction for very high degrees of nearsightedness and farsightedness (Low and moderate ranges of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are also correctable with implantable lenses)
Predictable outcomes, even in high corrections
Fast visual stabilization
Does not alter the tissue of the cornea
Minimal side effects
Can be combined with other corrective options
Removable
The Implantable Lens correction procedure was approved by the Health Protection Branch of the Canadian Federal government in June 2001 and by the US FDA in January 2006.
Hope this helps:
Hi again!
Just a correction, thought it doesn't make a big difference: after all, my wife diopters are -19 for her right eye and -14 in her left eye.
Doctor Micheal J Kutryb, thank you for your reply.
I saw some info on clear lens extraction. It looks like a very complexe procedure, in a site they say that it is like a last option, when averything else fails... And it seems to be expensive...
Is Phakic IOL a reversible process? I ask it because maybe there is a chance that one day medicine evolves and she may benefit from a most advanced technique in some years time. What do you think about it?
Thank you!
And a last question
Just a correction, thought it doesn't make a big difference: after all, my wife diopters are -19 for her right eye and -14 in her left eye.
Doctor Micheal J Kutryb, thank you for your reply.
I saw some info on clear lens extraction. It looks like a very complexe procedure, in a site they say that it is like a last option, when averything else fails... And it seems to be expensive...
Is Phakic IOL a reversible process? I ask it because maybe there is a chance that one day medicine evolves and she may benefit from a most advanced technique in some years time. What do you think about it?
Thank you!
And a last question
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Lasik or PRK would generally not be an option for these high levels. Phakic IOL or clear lens extraction would be the only surgical options for myopia of this level. Take a very close look at the risk benefits of both and get a few qualified opinions if you are interested.
MJK MD
MJK MD
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