Lattice degeneration laser treatment

Hi. Im 26 and have just been diagnosed with Lattice Degeneration in my left eye. I am myopic (-3.25 OD and -2.50 OS). I am an Australian expat living in Shanghai China and was diagnosed in the Shanghai  'New Vision Eye Clinic'. I have also been scheduled for laser surgery to treat this degeneration. I was told I have thinning of the retina but asked little questions as I had no idea what this disorder was. After reading into it on the net, I found that it is very common and usually requires no surgical attention until holes, tears or detachments occur. I have had floaters since I was 21 and I believe I have noticed extra floaters recently but I can't be certain.. The ophthalmologist  said there were no tears or signs of detachment but believed that surgery was necessary. I am scared. Surgery is expensive and I have heard rumors that some Chinese practices charge westerners for surgery they don't need. My question is, do you believe I need surgery for a lattice degeneration with no holes or tears? And is it natural for floaters to get slightly worse as you age? And, will surgery do me more harm than good if I have only the thinning aspects of lattice degeneration, without holes etc?

Thank you for your help.

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

I answered this questions on the Patient To Patient Eye Forum. Link on this page.

JCH III MD