28 year old female- diagnosed with wet macular degeneration

[davisj]

Hello-

I have high myopia (-12). About 6 weeks ago (Sept. 13, 2012 to be exact), I noticed a grey spot in the central vision of my left eye. I scheduled an eye appointment with my optometrist for the following Tuesday. After running many "test," she diagnosed my spot as an "ocular migraine." One month later, at my follow up appointment, I was referred to a retinal specialist who diagnosed me with wet macular degeneration. I received my first injection of Avastin that same day (Oct.29th). I will have another injection on 11/29/12.

I am in shock that this is happening to my eyes. I am concerned for the health of my eyes and my quality of life going forward as I am only 28 years old. Will I eventually lose my central vision completely? Will my life consist of Avastin injections from here on out? Will my right eye also be affected?  Is there anyone else out there who is close in age that is going through this as well?

Warmest Regards,

JHD

[Doreen Fazio, M.D.]

High myopia can lead to the development of choroidal neovascularization (new blood vessel growth under the retina), due to stretching and thinning of the retina and resultant breaks in Bruch's membrane under the retina.  It is certainly possible that this could also happen to the right eye.  Fortunately, you are under the care of a retina specialist, and you should be monitored very carefully.  If you don't already check your vision with an Amsler grid, ask your doctor for one of these grids, which you can use daily to monitor your central vision.  Call your retina specialist immediately if you notice new distortion in either eye.  Fortunately, many times the process can be brought under control with the injections, and vision stabilized or improved.

[ValveJob]

There is "age related macular degeneration" (both dry and wet) and there is "myopic macular degeneration" (both dry and wet).  The first is caused by bio-chemical reasons, the second my mechanical (the retina stretching and getting thin).

I also have degenerative myopia which is causing macular degeneration.  In my left eye, it has caused a CNV (choroidal neovascularization) which means that a new blood vessel grew and hemorrhaged.  I also had two Avastin shots.  I am much, much older than you, but it is still devasating.

[davisj]

Thank you! Do you also have high myopia? The second doctor that I saw (optometrist) said that I had degenerative myopia. After seeing the specialist, he diagnosed me with wet macula degeneration. Are these diseases essentially the same thing?

[perlie]

I wish you the best of luck with this scary situation. It is very much how my journey started out. The good news is that you are being seen by the right kind of dr. In my case, I was seeing a general opthamologist and he made a series of misjudgements about my case, One word of caution.. have your dr check on macular holes. By the time I got to a retina specialist, not only was my retina detached for ovee 3 months,, but I had a macular hole. Even surgery couldn't  fix the hole enough to bring back my cnetral vision. I regret not pushing more to get to a more specialized dr who may have been able to have better success with the macular hole.

[davisj]

Thank you for your response.