High myopia and tennis

[AAA&BBB]

Hello I am a 31 years old male with high myopia（both eyes over 1000）. I has LASIK surgery 3 years ago and result is very good. I give up basketball because of concern of any possibility of retinal tear or detachment. Now I am considering to learn playing tennis. My question is for my individual case or generally speaking can high myopia person like me play tennis? Thank you very much.

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

1. That is what that paper says although there is no specific paper cited that these figures came from. I would believe a figure of 2-5% for > 6.00 diopter of myopia.
2. I believe that is a coincidence rather tha a cause.
3. Look at the figures optomistically, even accepting the figure you cite you have a 95% of NOT having a retinal detachment. If you do have a retinal detachment there is a 95% chance that it can be successfully reattached.

JCH III MD

[AAA&BBB]

Thanks Doctor, based on your comment 5 questions:

1.   My both eyes are over 10.00 diopter myopia before LASIC in 2004. In your opinion do you think I can (1) jogging; (2) swimming BUT NOT diving; (3) playing golf.

2.   One of my big concern is whether RD has any preceding symptom or signal that we can detect through regular (saying every 6 months) dilated eye exam OR felt by myself (for example see light flash in the dark even if there is no rapid eye movement)?     My anxiety is some RD comes suddently without any preceding signal and I really need a well defined emergency plan to act ASAP.         I know I am a little nervous. Pls kindly understand I have a good family, wife and will have my baby soon. Realisticly I can't accept serious eye problem before 50 or 60 y/o. I need to support and care my family instead of burdening them.

3.   Also I guess the ratio of 2-5% is for the population of >6.00 diopter myopia. Statistically if the population only include people with over 10.00 myopia (like my case) will the ratio be much higher than that? Based on your professional knowledge and experience is the ratio significantly correlated with degree of myopia dipoter? OR all those 5% RD patients evenly distribute in each group, I mean 6.00, 7,00, 8,00, 9,00, 10,00 etc.

4.   One maybe naive question. In you high myopia patients are there someones with over - 10.00 BUT not experiencing RD and maintain good health status of retina, even they could be old people over 50 y/o?

5.  I will be in New York City next month and really want to find a retina specialist and MD to have 360 exam and assessment for my eyes. Can you kindly recommend the clinic and doctor or weblink?

Tons of thanks!!

[JodieJ]

You could try www.castleconnolly.com to locate a retinal specialist in NYC.  For a nominal fee, you will have access to a data base of specialists who were nominated by other docs as someone that they'd see themselves or send a family member to see.

I believe that both long eyes and steep corneas can cause high myopia, although it's just the long eyes that are related to a higher probability of retinal detachment.  And 10 diopters of myopia doesn't sound all that bad to me.  There have been recent posts on this forum from people with more than 20 diopters of myopia.  Based on the above statistics, your chances of having a retinal detachment that cannot be reattached is only .0025 percent (i.e., extremely low), and you'd still have another eye.  This is probably much lower than your chances of being hit by a drunk driver while crossing the street.  I think you're worrying too much--just about everyone's at a higher risk for some condition.  

[AAA&BBB]

Thanks for your kind help Jodie. I appreciate it very much.

Dear Doctor JH can you also kindly provide your advice for my questions above?

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

1. Jogging, swimming and golf--three of my favorite activites are fine for you.
2. I think for most people if a thorough dilated retina exam shows no suspicious areas and the Retinal physician agrees that once a year is enough. HOWEVER you are so anxious about this that the reassurance of an exam every 6 months may be worth it to your peace of mind.
3. The rate of RD is not proportional to the degree of myopia in a linear or predicable way. I don't think there are any studies of retinal detachment in myopia >10.00 diopters. You may be able to find one if you spend enough time.
4. Most patients (>51%) of my 10+ diopter myopes have good vision no RD and no macular degeneration
5. New York City has lots of excellent retina ophthalmologists and lots of excellent medical schools and also Manhattan Eye & Ear which is arguably probably the best known.

JCH III MD

[AAA&BBB]

Thanks a lot Doctor. Your professional advice really really relieve my anxiety.  I am so sorry to bother you too much. Again thanks a million.

All best wishes to you and Medhelp.org!!!