High Myopia - Is there anybody out there?

[sophia35]

Hi everyone.

I'm 35,with  really high myopia ( -17 in left eye and -22 in right eye)astigmatism  and cataract in right eye not impairing sight. Use rigid gas permeable contacts and get along "fine".

Have had gas bubble in left eye and laser in both for retinal tears/holes.
The only procedure I'm considering is IOL when absolutely necessary.

I've never heard of anyone with myopia this high. i'm really worried about future prospects.

I know people with similar conditions can have different outcomes but can anyone with high myopia ( even if not like mine) please give any input or useful information?

Many thanks.

Wishing you all the best,
Sophia

[berrywoo]

Hi sophia. I don't know what sort of information you're looking for but as a fellow person with a high degree of myopia I know that you're worried about what may happen later on. From some of the research that I've done and from talking with my doctors I know that people with myopia are at a greater risk for developing retinal tears, glaucoma and other eye problems so it is best to make and keep yearly eye exams.

As a 23 year old having been born with ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) I have recently undergone four surgeries to try and correct a recurring detached retina in what was my better eye. Also, I do have an IOL which was put in at the same time I was udergoing my second surgery. It is frustrating and frightening to think what may happen as I get older, since I am down to the use of only one eye.

Make sure you know all the risks of cataract surgery before you go through with it.  It may cause a detached retina.

[sophia35]

Dear berrywoo,

Thank you for your reply. I do wish you the very best possible outcome.
I have done some research and continue doing so perhaps in search of some kind of
miracle...
Maybe its silly but sometimes just exchanging whatever sort of information with other people helps.
I even read about "electronic eyes" which have already been proven to work but still don't have
much resolution and I suppose aren't marketable yet...
For now I do get my retinas checked regularly. I try not to overdo computer use and close work and
rest my eyes every 15 or 30 minutes when I do so. I also try to not overdo certain physical activities.
Even if it doesn't help, in recommended amounts it won't hurt so I take vitamin and mineral  
supplement comtaining luthein(?) and zeaxantine (?) as well as salmon oil  which contains omega 3
( EPA and DHA).
Wishing you and everyone the best, Sophia

[sophia35]

By the way, thank you.
I am aware of the risks of cataract surgery and will only have this procedure when it is absolutely
necessary.Glaucoma also scares me and if those "electronic eyes" ever really  become available they will be of no help to people with their optic nerve impaired.
I even tried searching homeopathic alternatives but found no answers...
I guess at least we have hope and making the most of what we have!

[James J Salz, M.D.]

If you are successful at wearing your hard contact lenses I would advise you  to continue to do that.  The only possible surgical option is called a phakic implant and they only come in a power as high as about -17 so you could consider it in your right eye.  That would give you the freedom of seeing when you wake up in the middle of the night. You could continue to wear the hard lens in your left eye. You can find more information about phakic implants and sugeons in your area by doing a google search on STAAR Visian lens implant or AMO Verisaye lens implant. Do not consider a procedure called clear lensectomy where your lens is removed and replaced as that dramatically increases the risks to your already fragile retinas

[sophia35]

Dear Doctor/Doctors,

Thank you for your reply! Have been away from computer. What I´'ve decided for now is to use the
RGP contacts for as long as I can. With -17 ( left eye) and -22 I really don't have good vision with
glasses ( aesthetics aside).I just hope the cataract in my right eye takes a long time to develop
enough to impair my vision or require surgery. At that time I will have no other choice but to get non
phakic IOLs. By the way does the power I require limit my choices in any way ? I have astigmatism
as well though I don't know how much exactly.

Are there specific measures or products you can advise to help my corneas tolerate lenses as
long as possible?

Thank you in advance for yor attention.

Wishing everyone the best,
Sophia

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

No your high myopia will likely not limit your IOL (intraocular lens) choices. Remember that the technology for IOLs changes very fast and the IOLs used in 2-3 years will be different that those now (better for one or the other reason).  In some instances now with very high power TWO IOLs are put in the eye (piggy-back IOLs).

To maintain your contact lens tolerance have your contact lens and eyes checked at least annually (every 6 months would be better), replace them yearly (ridgid gas permeable contacts don't last much longer than soft CTL and not nearly as long as the very old fashion hard plastic contact lens. Consider removing your contact lens and wearing you glasses in the evening when you're "in for the night". That may not work for you but if it doesn't no problem. Keep you eye moist with artifical contact lens wetting solutions and artificial tears.

I have several 70 year old patients that wear contact lens.

JCH III MD  Ophthalmologist

[sophia35]

Dear Doctor,

Thank you once again!

I wish the very best to you and your loved ones.

Sophia

[ainge]

Hi

I'm new to this site and have just made my first post. I'm -17D, but fortunately with no complications - I hope. I've got to the stage whereby I'm used to how I look, although I rarely, if ever, see people with glasses like mine.

Regards

Paul

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

If you've made peace with your glasses that's great. Your other options are contact lens, intraocular contact lens, lasik to reduce the thickness of the glasses and refractive lens exchange.

JCH II MD

[krishnaB]

I have similar condition -16.5 in both eyes and with 4.5 astigmatism. I am 26y old and with very active lifestyle. I play games a lot and always tried to takecare of myself by going to gym and other activities. As of now i am wearing soft contact lenses and work as a s/w Engineer in Boston. For the past few months i am noticing increase in floaters in my right eye, so i have taken an appointment with Dr. Tolentino at New England Hospital and will let you the results.

Though i am very used to wearing contact lenses but worried about wearing them for a long time, On an average i wear them from 8:30 AM and remove them at 10:00PM so i am bit worried will this create a problem in the long run.

Thanks
Kris

[indi1664]

Hi Sophia,
                 You are not alone...I was till 5 weeks ago about -20 (Incl -2 astigmatism) in both Eyes I have just had CLEAR lens surgery..in left Eye...rather than me detailing all here ...have a read of my posts and replies from very supportive surgeons and other members.

If you need any further info post here ..or send me a message and will try and answer your question as best i can.

[indi1664]

Hi
    I have had similar prescription to yourself....and yes ...I wore soft contacts ...just as you are now and sometimes even longer...about 8 years back ...my optician did a through Eye test and found serious blood vessel growth...why?...due to excess Cotact lens wear...this is a VERY SERIOUS condition...if not attended to ...you can go blind.

To correct the problem I had to cut down wear to no more than 8 hrs /day....also when you change your lenses ...ask you optomerist to prescrbe High Oxygen content lenses ...basically the higher the content ..the more Oxygen alllowed to the Eye and will increase wear time.

If you really wish to wear for longer ...take out lenses for about an hour during the day ...than wear again...and you would be ok for a total of 12- 13 hrs for the day...but dont push it....Opticain can advice better..

But dont panic at moment it is unlikely you have this problem as you are 26...so maybe have very mildly if atall...but you MUST get optician to test for this....as i said  was wearing 14- 15 hrs a day and was diagnoosed when I was about 34...

[kayrow]

Hi Sophia,
     I had cataract surgery on May 7. At the time of surgery I was a -22. in my right eye and no sight in my left due to detached retina in my early teens about 30 years ago. I struggled for more that 2 years with the decision until the cataract was really affecting my daily life. and it had gotten so dense that the dr could not see my retina very well at all anymore, which as you well know is vital for folks like us. I was referred to Dr Douglas Koch in Houston Tx . As of last Friday I have 20/40 vision with no correction and can now read without glasses or contacts for the very first time in my life. It is truyly amazing!! I am experiencing a whole new world. So far ther have been no problems and I pray every day that remains the case. I highly recommed Dr Koch. the entire experince was wonderful Everyone there was so helpful and understanding and just as excited after surgery as I was.

I wish you the best of luck
Karen

[krishnaB]

I am so happy for you. Thanks for sharing the info. I pray to god that u get better and happier day by day.

Kris

[ccbc]

I read your post WoW!   I met Dr Koch about 8 years ago and was invited to be a patient at Grand Rounds at Baylor.  Of course, no one would recommend elective eye surgery for me.  I am -16.5--17.0 in my best eye and the other is legally blind amblyopic.  

At 55 years old with myopic macular degeneration and lattice,  and pvd's, getting the distance, mid, and near vision is a challenge.  I also have a cataract in the legally blind eye but the retina dr. doesn't want it removed due to the high possibility of retinal detachment.

I am so excited for you. I'm sure there was a great concern of retinal detachment with your cataract surgery.  Please let me know your progress. This is great news.

I live in Houston, Texas  Donna Parker

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

-

[travisgagne]

I am 23 and facing possible loss of vision i am -17.5 in both eyes and have a sigmitism, and have retinal scaring and tareing, i have undergone a porcedure called pan laser retinpoathy to seal the blood vessels that had burst and to also prevent new vestles from forming

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Pan retinal photocoagulation is usually done for diabetic proliferative retinopathy that has nothing to do with high myopia. Myopic macular degeneration of the "wet" kind is generally treated with Avastin or Lucentis that is injected into the eye or the cold visudyne light therapy.

In any case you should be under the care of a retina Eye MD.

If you are not comfortable get a second opinion.

JCH MD

[travisgagne]

My doctor did the laser to seal the blood vessels, he is Dr. kenneth kesty. North Bay Ontario

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Hopefully Dr. Kesty is a retina subspecilaist Eye MD.

You will need to get details from him.

JCHMD

[Anali]

Just feeling a bit overwhelmed as to how and where I should get started in this community.  If I ask any questions, I really don't even know where to begin.  I feel enlightened to know all the problems out there and what solutions you all have found -- I am amazed at what answers I find, as basically I think I am more chronically neurotic than the ultimate of visually impaired.

Though I will want answers, I would find the general community support even more life-affirming.

I am basically someone who started out about medium high myopic and high astigmatism also with amblyopia.  In only about three years or less I went from mild to very bothersome cataracts such that in a short amount of time I can now only correct my vision to 20/80 because of my cataracts, fear the possible complications of surgery and can't help wondering if there are other solutions besides instant surgery.  Especially when I can finally see with two pairs of eyeglasses put together -- though this compromises my near-vision.

There is one medical center in my area offering me free surgery, medical care, etc., but I don't want to compromise just to go to any institution or doctor I can pay for, as I really need the more specialized care for my eye disabilities that go beyond the usual.  It seems in California one has to be next to totally blind to be considered "disabled" enough for benefits.

Anali

[sophia35]

Dear Anali,

I just got online and went straight to answering your post. First I'd like to say that I
have a very good idea of what your going through and I do wish you the very best of all possible outcomes. No doctor can give 100 % guarantees with any operation whatsoever
and patients in similar conditions can have different outcomes.

This said,I believe there are things patients can do to help set the odds in their favour. It is important to be informed about your condition. Doctor John C. Hagan has been very helpful to me and if you ask questions on either forum, busy as he is, he gives prompt and informative replies.I am very thankful for him.Learning about other people's experiences helps you understand practical things and brings up issues you  didn't even think of . You can type cataract surgery high myopia or simply just cataract in the upper right corner where it says search MedHelp. Although I've been dissappointed by a few
doctors, I haven't lost faith because I realize no doctor can know everything and some issues are so "complex" that different doctors have different views...

I am no doctor but the idea that I have about cataract surgery is that if you're not myopic
the risks of complications are pretty low. However, if you are myopic, there is an increased risk for retinal detachment which myopic people are already prone to.and cataract surgery should only be considered when vision is severely impaired. If this is your case ( and it will be mine one day, already have cataract...) you will probably need the surgery.

Please ask for Doctor's expert advice but I think the first thing you should do is get your retinas checked: Perhaps special action may be taken to prevent retinal detachment.
I don't know if people get both eyes done but if your scared get your worse eye done first and see how that goes.

Another important issue is the type of lens you get implanted and how well it will correct your vision and its important you should get informed about that. To help you understand these issues you can look up monofocal and multifocal lenses for example and I believe there are many, many experiences good and bad reported with all sorts of lenses on Medhelp's forums.

You may end up choosing to be operated in the place you referred but I thinhk its worth spending your money on the opinion of at least two specialists. Dr. Hagan may be able to reccomend one in your area.

Sorry for long post. I sincerely hope you get all the information and help you need and that things go really well for you.

Sophia

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

-

[Anali]

Dear Sophia,

As I am not yet used to navigating these group sites, I owe you an apology.  Naturally you were looking for my response to your very well-thought out heartfelt letter and I hope you found my response.  I finally figured out later that accidentally I sent my letter to you as a private message only when I wanted to post it here:  It somehow escaped me at that time I needed just to post this in the "Post Comment" section here rather than clicking on your user name.

Than you so much for your letter and, I am going to try to find my original response to you so I can then copy it and post it here.

Thanks so much for all your thoughtfulness!

Anali

[phantastic1974]

I have a son that has -17 in right eye and a -19 in left eye. He has serious problems even with glasses seeing clearly. It is terrifying to even send him to school. I have spent a fortune on glasses and of course he gets picked on teased about his "coke bottle glasses." He really wants to go to contacts but his eye dr has been hesitant. Are there any daily contacts for children with severe myopia?? he also has a astigmatism. My son is 11 and every time we get a prescription it seems to be worse. I have trouble getting answers from the dr and I am extremely frustrated as is my child. I just want to know what he is going to have left for vision and what we can do to improve his vision health.

[sophia35]

Hello,

The doctors on this forum are prompt and attentive in their responses and will certainly
answer your  questions.

I would however like to give you my opinion about contact lenses. Don't really know
my prescription at the time but started to use RGB custom made contacts when I was 18. Besides myopia -22 and -17 I now  have a high degree of astigmatism and I'm assuming your son also has astigmatism.

I have used this type of contact lense for over 15 years and regrardless inevitable pathological myopia issues I am at least very happy with the way I chose to correct my vision. It is more difficult to get used to RGB's than soft (toric in your case) lenses but
afterwards you don't notice them at all and I am totally convinced they are better for good vision as well as eye health. I must add that I wish I had started using them sooner.
I recall I started using them for periods of time which were gradually extended and after
I think one week or so I used them all day.,

Please do get a professional opinion but I  believe your doctor is hesitating for two main
reasons:

1 - Your son's eye is still growing and even without myopia progression you will need to replace the contacts with a certain frequency to adapt to eye growth.

2 - He is young and will need to learn to handle the tiny lenses. I  was 18 and it was confusing to me how to handle some thing so tiny but I got used to it really fast and you
know if your son really wants it iIbelieve he will too.

  In an attempt to give you more complete information I would like to add that for example his friends shouldn't touch his eyes because thes lenses " pop out " more
easily than soft ones. Another thing is that its not pleasant at all to get dust in your eye that gets behind the lens,  but you can move tthe lens carefully to the corner of your eye and get to somewhere where you can take it off ,wash it and problem solved.

Hope this helps, I certainly wish I had known a number of things years ago.
  
Hope you find the ideal solution for the well being of your sons eyes as well as his happiness.

Sophia