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LASIK for myopic eyes
I am due to have LASIK next month. I am currently -8.0 on right eye and -8.75 on the left eye. What are my chances of success?
Connie
Connie
Some points to consider with high myopia and LASIK.
High myopia renders you more statistically likely to develop glaucoma than the normal person. LASIK alters the shape/thickness of the cornea and makes it difficult to obtain accurate intraocular pressure readings. Because the optic nerve in the myopic eye is tilted and looks abnormal to begin with, having accurate introacular pressure reads is even more important to diagnose glaucoma risk.
Additionally, it is also well known that high myopia also increases cataract risk. Once again, obtaining the best measurement to ascertain the needed IOL power for cataract surgery will also be compromised.
Lastly, one needs to realize that because high myopia is not well studied, the actual risk of refractive procedures on the retina is really unknown. But the available research does indicate that compared with mild/moderate myopia, complications occur much more frequently in the highly myopic eye from all refractive procedures. And when one of those complications occurs to you, it is a big deal. I am proof of that.
High myopia renders you more statistically likely to develop glaucoma than the normal person. LASIK alters the shape/thickness of the cornea and makes it difficult to obtain accurate intraocular pressure readings. Because the optic nerve in the myopic eye is tilted and looks abnormal to begin with, having accurate introacular pressure reads is even more important to diagnose glaucoma risk.
Additionally, it is also well known that high myopia also increases cataract risk. Once again, obtaining the best measurement to ascertain the needed IOL power for cataract surgery will also be compromised.
Lastly, one needs to realize that because high myopia is not well studied, the actual risk of refractive procedures on the retina is really unknown. But the available research does indicate that compared with mild/moderate myopia, complications occur much more frequently in the highly myopic eye from all refractive procedures. And when one of those complications occurs to you, it is a big deal. I am proof of that.
This thread started with the OP asking about chances of success. I have made my opinion amply clear, but I want to address a few issues:
1. Testing for glaucoma. There are several methods of testing, not all use an instrument to measure pressure. The most definitive test for glaucoma involves a trained specialist examining the nerve canal. Most people do not randomly test their intraocular pressure every day. Testing that pressure is normally done by an eye doctor. Knowing that a device pressure number is inaccurate is easily addressed by informing the eye doctor that the pressure reading is inaccurate due to Lasik.
2. Any time you do surgery to the eye, it comes with an increased risk of cataracts. If your surgeon does not inform you of this, I believe he/she is doing all patients a great disservice. Also, it is your responsibility as a patient to be informed of risks and benefits, particularly for a voluntary surgery such as Lasik.
3. kg17's point of "Lastly, one needs to realize that because high myopia is not well studied, the actual risk of refractive procedures on the retina is really unknown." is well taken. However, it is always up to the individual to decide if a surgery is right and needed.
4. My statement of retinal detachment not caused by my Lasik has been confirmed by quite a few (more than 5) separate ophthalmologists and retinal surgeons. Also, the statistical possibility of a retinal detachment being tied to a surgery that happened over 10 years ago is pretty low.
I remember when PRK was "the thing." Lasik came along as a significant improvement. Of course medical science is going to keep coming up with new and better techniques to address problems. Realistically, the idea of doing a lens implant instead of Lasik is definitely an intriguing idea.
As one of the doctors who posts on this site recently said (paraphrasing), online forums such as this tend to attract people who are unhappy more than those who are happy. This point is quite true. Most of all the posters here have their own personal experience to relate, a positive and a negative attraction to any forum. If there were a large number of Lasik patients who had significant problems with the procedure, you would see an effect in the number of patients having it performed, as well as the number of doctors willing to perform. In the last ten years, the opposite has been true. Looking at the numbers of procedures and the FDA's reports, Lasik still has a very good success rate. Does this mean it is a cure-all? No. Are there problems? Of course there are. Every medical procedure has its risks -- people die from having root canals.
Instead of trying to scare or insult the original poster, consider your reasoning in responding to a post. If a poster is pleased with the choice he/she has made, why tell someone he/she is still wrong? Consider how you would react if someone made that comment about other choices you make? I came to this forum to pass the time as I recovered from a retinal surgery. I came as a place to just listen to others and see how they addressed similar problems. I never came to be told what to do, nor did I ever expect "good advice." If you want good advice, locate someone with valued experience in the field.
Dr. Hagan's initial advice is still the best. Ask more than one surgeon. Make a decision based on that information and your own choices about how you wish to live your life.
1. Testing for glaucoma. There are several methods of testing, not all use an instrument to measure pressure. The most definitive test for glaucoma involves a trained specialist examining the nerve canal. Most people do not randomly test their intraocular pressure every day. Testing that pressure is normally done by an eye doctor. Knowing that a device pressure number is inaccurate is easily addressed by informing the eye doctor that the pressure reading is inaccurate due to Lasik.
2. Any time you do surgery to the eye, it comes with an increased risk of cataracts. If your surgeon does not inform you of this, I believe he/she is doing all patients a great disservice. Also, it is your responsibility as a patient to be informed of risks and benefits, particularly for a voluntary surgery such as Lasik.
3. kg17's point of "Lastly, one needs to realize that because high myopia is not well studied, the actual risk of refractive procedures on the retina is really unknown." is well taken. However, it is always up to the individual to decide if a surgery is right and needed.
4. My statement of retinal detachment not caused by my Lasik has been confirmed by quite a few (more than 5) separate ophthalmologists and retinal surgeons. Also, the statistical possibility of a retinal detachment being tied to a surgery that happened over 10 years ago is pretty low.
I remember when PRK was "the thing." Lasik came along as a significant improvement. Of course medical science is going to keep coming up with new and better techniques to address problems. Realistically, the idea of doing a lens implant instead of Lasik is definitely an intriguing idea.
As one of the doctors who posts on this site recently said (paraphrasing), online forums such as this tend to attract people who are unhappy more than those who are happy. This point is quite true. Most of all the posters here have their own personal experience to relate, a positive and a negative attraction to any forum. If there were a large number of Lasik patients who had significant problems with the procedure, you would see an effect in the number of patients having it performed, as well as the number of doctors willing to perform. In the last ten years, the opposite has been true. Looking at the numbers of procedures and the FDA's reports, Lasik still has a very good success rate. Does this mean it is a cure-all? No. Are there problems? Of course there are. Every medical procedure has its risks -- people die from having root canals.
Instead of trying to scare or insult the original poster, consider your reasoning in responding to a post. If a poster is pleased with the choice he/she has made, why tell someone he/she is still wrong? Consider how you would react if someone made that comment about other choices you make? I came to this forum to pass the time as I recovered from a retinal surgery. I came as a place to just listen to others and see how they addressed similar problems. I never came to be told what to do, nor did I ever expect "good advice." If you want good advice, locate someone with valued experience in the field.
Dr. Hagan's initial advice is still the best. Ask more than one surgeon. Make a decision based on that information and your own choices about how you wish to live your life.
First of all many thanks for all the comments regarding LASIK and retinal detachment. We myopic people, are more suscetible to this kind of problem. I will be having the treatment with Prof. D Reinstein, one of the world lead specialist in refractive surgery. I had 6 hours of test to see if I was suitable or not. Obviously nobody knows what will happen to all these people that had LASIK in 20 years... Is -8 highly myopic, anyway? I thought it was more like -10. Hope to hear from you soon.
Connie
Connie
Doctor,
Is -8 considered high myopia or moderate? It is important to know that.LASIK nowadays can correct until -12. I know quite a lot of people with my prescription that had LASIK and are quite happy with the results.One is even -9 and today does not wear glasses for anything. I was told that the technology for myopia is quite good with LASIK. It is not the same though to hypermethropia and astigmatism. Please let me know what you know. It is really sad to read so many stories of young people (25-40) with two times my prescription. I am 53 years old, female, and quite healthy. My cornea is very thick and my IOP is good. No sign of diabetes of high blood pressure. Had an ulcer on right eye 36 years ago due to a contact lenses problem, and at the age of 34 a fungus on my right eye due to a nap taken in the afternoon while wearing contacts (RGP).
Thanks
Connie
Is -8 considered high myopia or moderate? It is important to know that.LASIK nowadays can correct until -12. I know quite a lot of people with my prescription that had LASIK and are quite happy with the results.One is even -9 and today does not wear glasses for anything. I was told that the technology for myopia is quite good with LASIK. It is not the same though to hypermethropia and astigmatism. Please let me know what you know. It is really sad to read so many stories of young people (25-40) with two times my prescription. I am 53 years old, female, and quite healthy. My cornea is very thick and my IOP is good. No sign of diabetes of high blood pressure. Had an ulcer on right eye 36 years ago due to a contact lenses problem, and at the age of 34 a fungus on my right eye due to a nap taken in the afternoon while wearing contacts (RGP).
Thanks
Connie
Dear Doctor,
Please note that I am aware of the risks you take when undergo LASIK. No doctor nowadays will let you have this "treatment" as they call, without you knowing the risks you are taking. My expectations are quite realistic (if I end up with -1, I am very happy indeed!). I am more concerned with the long term consequences of this surgery. I have only recently found out that we are more prone to retinal detachment than teh general population. Not good! As mentioned before I was declared by the clinic a suitable candidate for LASIK after being tested for 6 hours (I arrived at 9 and left at 3pm).
What do you think? I agree with one of the emails when it says "you get what you pay for".
Hope to hear from you soon. I still have time to change my mind.
Please note that I am aware of the risks you take when undergo LASIK. No doctor nowadays will let you have this "treatment" as they call, without you knowing the risks you are taking. My expectations are quite realistic (if I end up with -1, I am very happy indeed!). I am more concerned with the long term consequences of this surgery. I have only recently found out that we are more prone to retinal detachment than teh general population. Not good! As mentioned before I was declared by the clinic a suitable candidate for LASIK after being tested for 6 hours (I arrived at 9 and left at 3pm).
What do you think? I agree with one of the emails when it says "you get what you pay for".
Hope to hear from you soon. I still have time to change my mind.
Hi dukey,
If you go from -9 or -8 to -1 it sounds like a successful surgery to me. You can do a lot things without glasses, apart from watching TV, driving at night and working in front of a computer. By the way there is nothing worse than working with computers! They destroyed my eyesight.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Connie
If you go from -9 or -8 to -1 it sounds like a successful surgery to me. You can do a lot things without glasses, apart from watching TV, driving at night and working in front of a computer. By the way there is nothing worse than working with computers! They destroyed my eyesight.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Connie
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