Lattice formation & holes on the Retina

  AS my mother was operated for a Retinal Detatchment lately I thought of getting My Retina thoroughly examined by a vitreo Retinal Surgeon.I am highly myopic since my childhood & wearing Gas permeable contact lenses since the last 20 years.My mother was also a high myopic patient in the past.
  On my retina examination the Surgeon diagnosed lattice degenaration patches  on my retina & also small holes in the Retina for which he suggested prophylactic cryopexy to prevent the risk of developing retinal detatchment.Iwish to know whether this treatement can be avoided & if not will it affect my present vision which is 20/20 in both my eyes with contact lenses.I am at present 39 years of age.Will I be having normal vision in my treated eye ?
______________

The answer to your question is a controversial one.  Lattice degeneration of the retina is a thinning of the peripheral retina.  It is more common in people who are near-sighted.  Lattice degeneration with holes are typically not treated, however if there are tears in the retina associated with this, the lattice is usually treated.  The retinal tear is more likely to develop into a retinal detachment where the retina pulls off the back of the eye and surgery is usually required to repair this.  The most important part of your history is that your mother who is also near sighted and may well have lattice degeneration developed a retinal detachment.  For this reason, most ophthalmologists would likely recommend treatment even if there where only holes and not tears.  You should also know that there are two ways the retina can be prophylactically treated.  Cryotherapy (freezing) or laser can be used to demarcate the affected retina.  Both are effective.  It is very unlikely that you would suffer any damage to your vision from the cryo treatment.  The retina that is treated is in the far periphery and we obtain our vision from the central retina.  Some may experience a few days of eye soreness following the treatment.
Good luck.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-JL
*Keywords:  lattice degeneration