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My future with myopia
Hi, I'm 33 from the UK and lived with severe myopia from birth. My myopia is -19.00 in my left eye and -21.00 in my right. i have suffered four instances of Foster-Fuch spots in both eyes; the last being around ten years ago. I assume - and this is not through any scientific means - that I inherited the condition on from my maternal side of the family.
I have up until now, corrected my vision through contact lens and specs having been told that laser or any surgery is out of the question mainly due to the Foster-Fuch spots. However, recently I was given hope that perhaps LASIK laser surgery might be possible. However the specialist clinic i was being referred to advised that the highest myopia they have treated was -16.00 and that was 4.00 about the safety parameter.
I'm at a juncture where my myopia is so severe that my practitioner has advised that there are few companies that can cater for me. He said that the best company for me only go up to -20.00. I have trialed some lens over -20.00 however the fits just don't work. So I'm currently wearing under-power lenses in my right eye.
I have always taken the word of my practitioner of my situation and condition because I have been with him for the best part of nearly 24 years. I've not questioned his judgement and advice especially since he is well respected in the industry and hold posts of various committees. I do however feel that I might be missing out on something; hence my desire to reach out to others either in the profession or fellow suffers.
Is there anyone out there how has the level of myopia that I do?
What experiences are people going through? For example I'm a Business Analyst and I'm now at the point of relying on the magnifier in Windows to do my day job; the commute to work can be a nightmare if I need to read the travel boards. I'm unable to comfortably use my smartphone and even watching television is bordering on uncomfortable. Going to a restaurant and reading a menu is embarrassing and just no longer enjoyable. Since I always wear contacts no one would know I would have any condition; and if I ask for help people looks at me with suspicion because I'm not carrying a white stick or a guide dog and I'm not wearing milk bottles!
Is there any hope out there for someone like me - to at least get back into a manageable myopia range as opposed to my current position??
Thanks
C
I have up until now, corrected my vision through contact lens and specs having been told that laser or any surgery is out of the question mainly due to the Foster-Fuch spots. However, recently I was given hope that perhaps LASIK laser surgery might be possible. However the specialist clinic i was being referred to advised that the highest myopia they have treated was -16.00 and that was 4.00 about the safety parameter.
I'm at a juncture where my myopia is so severe that my practitioner has advised that there are few companies that can cater for me. He said that the best company for me only go up to -20.00. I have trialed some lens over -20.00 however the fits just don't work. So I'm currently wearing under-power lenses in my right eye.
I have always taken the word of my practitioner of my situation and condition because I have been with him for the best part of nearly 24 years. I've not questioned his judgement and advice especially since he is well respected in the industry and hold posts of various committees. I do however feel that I might be missing out on something; hence my desire to reach out to others either in the profession or fellow suffers.
Is there anyone out there how has the level of myopia that I do?
What experiences are people going through? For example I'm a Business Analyst and I'm now at the point of relying on the magnifier in Windows to do my day job; the commute to work can be a nightmare if I need to read the travel boards. I'm unable to comfortably use my smartphone and even watching television is bordering on uncomfortable. Going to a restaurant and reading a menu is embarrassing and just no longer enjoyable. Since I always wear contacts no one would know I would have any condition; and if I ask for help people looks at me with suspicion because I'm not carrying a white stick or a guide dog and I'm not wearing milk bottles!
Is there any hope out there for someone like me - to at least get back into a manageable myopia range as opposed to my current position??
Thanks
C
It sounds like unfortunately your major problem may be that due to the Foster-Fuchs it sounds like your "best corrected" visual acuity is probably reduced, meaning that no matter what correction you use (contacts, glasses, LASIK or a combination) you won't be able to get full 20/20 quality vision. Highly myopic people whose vision is fully correctible don't tend to exhibit difficulty reading menus, watching TV, or reading "travel boards" you mention.
I was just curious about Foster-Fuchs spots since I hadn't heard of that, and it appears there are new pharmaceutical treatments available for them, you might check on it to ensure your doctors is up to date. I don't know if they can help with already reduced acuity unfortunately.
I know you mentioned the contact lens doesn't correct fully for 1 eye, but it sounds like then the other eye is corrected with a contact lens, which is usually enough to prevent the sort of difficulties you are describing which is why I suspect your "best corrected" acuity is reduced. Since you talk about contacts going up to -20 it sounds like you have 1 eye's vision's refractive error fully corrected and the other only 1 diopter off. Many people in their forties or later use "monovision" where they intentionally leave 1 eye under corrected by 1 diopter or more to provide better near vision without much reduction in distance vision due to their other eye being set at distance. That is what suggests to me again that the issue is reduced acuity that has nothing to do with whatever correction method you use.
Perhaps there are some contact lens brands available in Asia where there are more myopes, or in the US, that aren't marketed there now but which could be ordered remotely (either by your or by your eye doctor if they are custom made).
Most highly myopic people find vision better in contacts (I wasn't too high before my cataracts, -9D worst eye, but I always found that), but if the prescription gets too high some wear contacts to correct most of it and then smaller prescription glasses over top for the rest. I can't comment on the risks of LASIK (which I never had), but it seems there is no harm in checking with another eye doctor (in addition to researching on the net) regarding those, and especially regarding other contact lens brands, which I can't comment on.
btw, most smart phones have magnifier apps available which can also use the camera's flash to provide more light, to read menus
It seems that everyone gets cataracts if they live long enough, I had cataract surgery at the atypically young age of 52. It increases the risk of retinal attachment for high myopes (especially as myopic as you are), but the impression I get is that the risk is reduced with modern techniques and that the "scare statistics" regarding retinal detachment tend to be from papers based on techniques used a couple of decades ago. Unfortunately surgery is the only treatment for cataract. The surgery itself may leave you without the need for contacts anymore (though potentially with need for reading correction depending on what lens you get), and is otherwise very safe aside from the higher risk of things like retinal detachment for high myopes.
I was just curious about Foster-Fuchs spots since I hadn't heard of that, and it appears there are new pharmaceutical treatments available for them, you might check on it to ensure your doctors is up to date. I don't know if they can help with already reduced acuity unfortunately.
I know you mentioned the contact lens doesn't correct fully for 1 eye, but it sounds like then the other eye is corrected with a contact lens, which is usually enough to prevent the sort of difficulties you are describing which is why I suspect your "best corrected" acuity is reduced. Since you talk about contacts going up to -20 it sounds like you have 1 eye's vision's refractive error fully corrected and the other only 1 diopter off. Many people in their forties or later use "monovision" where they intentionally leave 1 eye under corrected by 1 diopter or more to provide better near vision without much reduction in distance vision due to their other eye being set at distance. That is what suggests to me again that the issue is reduced acuity that has nothing to do with whatever correction method you use.
Perhaps there are some contact lens brands available in Asia where there are more myopes, or in the US, that aren't marketed there now but which could be ordered remotely (either by your or by your eye doctor if they are custom made).
Most highly myopic people find vision better in contacts (I wasn't too high before my cataracts, -9D worst eye, but I always found that), but if the prescription gets too high some wear contacts to correct most of it and then smaller prescription glasses over top for the rest. I can't comment on the risks of LASIK (which I never had), but it seems there is no harm in checking with another eye doctor (in addition to researching on the net) regarding those, and especially regarding other contact lens brands, which I can't comment on.
btw, most smart phones have magnifier apps available which can also use the camera's flash to provide more light, to read menus
It seems that everyone gets cataracts if they live long enough, I had cataract surgery at the atypically young age of 52. It increases the risk of retinal attachment for high myopes (especially as myopic as you are), but the impression I get is that the risk is reduced with modern techniques and that the "scare statistics" regarding retinal detachment tend to be from papers based on techniques used a couple of decades ago. Unfortunately surgery is the only treatment for cataract. The surgery itself may leave you without the need for contacts anymore (though potentially with need for reading correction depending on what lens you get), and is otherwise very safe aside from the higher risk of things like retinal detachment for high myopes.
well, If I told you the things I cannot correct in my vision you would feel very lucky for your case :) Yes, I am UK based but I have no idea about an optometrist as I don't need one anymore (lived abroad before). Good luck
The logical part of me say that you are completely right - I'm over exaggerating and things are not over yet!
I've spent the best part of the last past twelve month struggling with my practitioner in as far as I don't think I'm getting the best possible care. Of course I can get glasses; unfortunately it does not correct the Foster-fuch spots. Perhaps I need to find someone else.
Are you UK based? Where would i start looking for a reputable and experienced optometrist or ophthalmologist?
I've spent the best part of the last past twelve month struggling with my practitioner in as far as I don't think I'm getting the best possible care. Of course I can get glasses; unfortunately it does not correct the Foster-fuch spots. Perhaps I need to find someone else.
Are you UK based? Where would i start looking for a reputable and experienced optometrist or ophthalmologist?
Cant you have glasses at -20? I also had some issues in the past with contacts, used to be resolved when changed the brand. The last ones I used (cannot remember the brand) were really thin , almost half the thickness of the previous (B&O). Also, almost everybody develops cataracts , we develop earlier than the rest due to the myopia. Mine developed very fast , in less than a year.Another solution would be to have implants.This is similar to cataract surgery apart of not removing your natural lense.I think you are exaggerating. Even if your exceed the -20 you are not visually impaired, even if the power of your correction is not the proper one.
Does that mean that I "will" develop cataract at some point or am "at a higher risk" of developing it?
I don't have a special issue as such, it's just that as soon as i went over the -20 the contact lens company changed and I couldn't get a pair that fit well with the correct numbering. they were always slightly blurry or kept moving in my eye.
Like you I have been wearing contacts since I was about nine. Its only now that i've broken the -20.00 barrier that it's become an issue for me. I feel as though I'm at the end of the road and the next step is to be classified as severely sight impaired and say good bye to independence and freedom. Dramatic I know, however when i was given the hope that part laser and part specs/contacts was dashed I feel like I'm on an inevitable path to blindness; that is what scares me. I'm afraid that I won't be able to physically watch my son grow up.
I don't have a special issue as such, it's just that as soon as i went over the -20 the contact lens company changed and I couldn't get a pair that fit well with the correct numbering. they were always slightly blurry or kept moving in my eye.
Like you I have been wearing contacts since I was about nine. Its only now that i've broken the -20.00 barrier that it's become an issue for me. I feel as though I'm at the end of the road and the next step is to be classified as severely sight impaired and say good bye to independence and freedom. Dramatic I know, however when i was given the hope that part laser and part specs/contacts was dashed I feel like I'm on an inevitable path to blindness; that is what scares me. I'm afraid that I won't be able to physically watch my son grow up.
I have(had) -18, wearing contact lenses since 10 years old up to the age of 44 when my myopia caused cataracts and had ro be operated. Besides the other issues accelerated by the surgery, I could have almost perfect vision through contact lenses , if you exclude the distortions etc that all occurred 3 years ago due to the severe myopia that you should expect also. Why cant you wear full power contact lenses (or glasses) ? contacts are available up to -20 and even higher ones if you make a special order. You have a special issue with contacts? Lasik is out of the question in such a high myopia , i dont think they can correct more than -10. Another alternative would be
to correct through Lasik partially and wear glasses on top of that. Keep in mind that in eyes like ours you should avoid surgery, only revert to it when your eyesight becomes that bad that there is no alternative (my cataracts reduced my vision to 3/10 thus I had to operate which restored it to 12/10, that is much better than normal vision). Of course other issues occurred, but this is another story
to correct through Lasik partially and wear glasses on top of that. Keep in mind that in eyes like ours you should avoid surgery, only revert to it when your eyesight becomes that bad that there is no alternative (my cataracts reduced my vision to 3/10 thus I had to operate which restored it to 12/10, that is much better than normal vision). Of course other issues occurred, but this is another story
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