Very High Miopia Again -17 -22

[sophia35]

Dear Doctor,

Once again I appreciate your response. The first question I sent was " Very High Myopia" dated June 27. ( 35 year old female from Portugal).

Have been away from computer due to serious family health issues.

I may not be able to consult this site as often as I'd like but believe me I won't forget www.medhelp.org and will always read answers to my questions as well as other people's whenever I can.

Firstly I'd like to say that there are simply not enough
words to praise the work you and your colleagues do.You provide your medical expertise promptly and clearly to countless people, many of which for one reason or other don't get answers to their questions and I personally know how that can bring peace of mind.

If possible kindly answer these questions: ( next post)

[myopic]

thanks a lot for your response sophia!

[sophia35]

Hi!

I really don't remember if I was given any pain killers.

However, I can tell you that I absolutely hated every laser treatment I ever got.

There's that uncomfortable lens stuck in your eye and each beam of light
really does hurt. No doctor told me it wouldn't. I did things like count the
eams  or say Hale Mary's over and over.

Afterwards my eyes were always sore for a while but it eventually went away.

Regarding pain killers, I can give you this example: when they put in those
drops to get your eyes dilated, sometimes in one hospital  your given drops
before to ease the sting and in others your not.
I don't know why or the name of those drops. I'm sure if you ask the doctor in
this forum he will tell you. Sorry I can't be more helpful!

Wishing you the best,
Sophia

[sophia35]

Dear Doctor,
I managed to read your answers!
Thank you  again.Your dedication is in fact remarkable.
When and if possible please answer the following questions. I do promise
I won't bother you  for quite some time.
Assuming I feel no symptoms, what is in your opinion the ideal time to let go  
by between routine checkups on my retinas?
Surprisingly I don't really understand things like 20/ 200 vision. I believe I have
50% and 40%. Does this make sense? Can you please explain what these
values mean?
Do the same "dioptres" (?) correspond to the same values?

Wishing you and your loved ones the very best,

Sophia

[myopic]

I forgot to mention the reason why I asked this question regarding pain...

3 years ago (8 years after the first laser sessions) I saw my doctor for a routine check up, he said everything is fine and he was ready to let me go but I kept complaining about my non stop experience with flashes and how it was worrying for me, he suddenly changed his mind and asked me to stay for a "tiny" laser session! With him seemingly not very convinced I needed this session I told him that I'd come to see him later... What happened is that I flew away to study in the US and ignored his recommendation. Had my experience with laser been reasonably painful I wouldn't have run away from it! So my question to you is this: Did your doctors give you any specially potent painkillers before a laser session? What's the name of the drugs?

[myopic]

hello sophia,

I have a question regarding your experience with laser? Is it painful?

Because 11 years ago (when I was 20) I was treated with laser in both eyes (the retina in the left eye was already detached and a buckle was used for it). Although holes were present only in the lower parts of the right eye's retina, my doctor lasered all around the retina (full circle) since it was very thin at the edges. So he wanted to seal thin areas of the retina even though they had no holes in them... he explained that holes cannot form in lasered areas of the retina. Now, my experience with laser was by far the most physically painful experience I ever had. It was like pins and needles constantly poked inside my eye. It was so painful I fainted! And later in the day, I threw up out of constant non-stop pain many hours after the laser treament! The funny thing is that right before the laser session he told me that I shouldn't feel any pain! You can imagine the horror I felt with the first laser hit that felt like a needle stuck deep into my eye! I had to go through this 2 or 3 times over the following 2 weeks and everytime he never bothered to give me any painkillers even though I asked for them before the beginning of the sessions!

So, is it only me or is it painful for everyone? Because what's driving me mad is that every doctor seems to believe that laser treatment applied to the retina should not be painful!

[sophia35]

Dear Doctor,

This is frustrating. My previous comment got sent but I can't read it nor your

answers to my questions.

I will try acess another day and just in case it is necessary I'll post

another question.

Thank you, all the best, Sophia.

[sophia35]

Dear Doctor,

This is just a test. I see you've answered me but when I access all

I see is the first of the two posts I initially sent! Will try again.

Thank you.

Sophia

[sophia35]

My retinas are in pretty bad shape with all sorts of scarring and previous tears and holes treated with laser. How often should I get my retinas checked (assuming I have no symptoms)in order to make sure any tear creeping up is treated in time?

I hate sunglasses and prefer to squint when its sunny.How important is it to use them beacause I have a cataract in my right eye and read somewhere that sunlight can be an aggravating factor? If I should use them what specificatios should they meet?

If I one day use iol and still need correction for myopia theoretically is it possible to use contacts instead of glasses ( assuming I am able to see up close to put them on ) ?

By the way,are you notified when readers post comments to your answers or is it better to ask a new question ( I actually sent this message first in a comment, please excuse the repetition!)?

Thank so much again. Wishing you and everyone the very best.

Sophia.

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

Hello Sophia sorry about the family health problems.

1. Sunglasses are best, if you can't make your self wear them wear a hat with a big bill. It will also help reduce the risk of facial and eye lid skin cancers. If you have in contacts any high quality over the counter sunglasses that block UV light in a gray or green color are best.

2. Yes it is possible to wear contact lens in an eye that has an implant in it.

3. No I am not notified when people post messages I have to check. I do this because I think it's imporant. I do this besides running a very large practice, editing a medical journal and functioning as a husband, father and grandfather. At some point I may not be able to answer questions on the patient to patient forum or do follow up questions. For now I can manage.

JCH Eye Physician and Surgeon