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Myopic Degeneration

I’m 25 years old and have been wearing glasses since I was 5.
I never realized how my bad vision means increased eye problems.
My perscription has been pretty stabilized for the past couple years at -8 in. Left and -9 in right with astigmatism -2-25 and -1,75 I right. My visual acuity has always been 20/40, I don’t know why. I remember my regular doc saying it’s because I have a slight nystagmus....I don’t notice it and nobody else ever mentioned that besides him.
I’ve been going to chains my entire life and last September I had a new eye doc for my appointment.
He kept my perceiption the same but wanted me to see a retinal specialist because he noticed some laquer cracks and enlightened me with the knowledge of floaters/ flashes and retinal detachment.
He insists on telling me not to worry, he just wants me to get checked out because of my high myopia.
So, naturally, I FREAK OUT and read stories online about people going blind. Ever since that day he told me about them, I see floaters and sometimes I see really quick flashes in my peripheral vision that aren’t really bright and I’m unsure if they actually occurred sometimes. I’ve never seen either before he told me about them.
I have HORRIBLE anxiety that I managed fine until he told me to go to the specialist and now it’s back.
I don’t know if I am seeing this as a result of anxiety or eyes.

I finally go see the retina specialist and he dilated me eyes does some tests takes pictures and exams me and was confused on why he referred me. He then looks at my eyes and noticed some laquer cracks, titled optic nerve, and peripapillary atrophy. (I might be spelling that wrong). He said it affects everyone differently and thinks I’m going to be fine because of stable visual acuity but wants me to come back yearly. Also tells me not to worry. He was surprised I see floaters and the flashes sometimes and I have no tears or whatever but if they increase call them right away.

I had another appointment with the chain eye doc hoping it would be the original doc again but it was a new lady. She basically treated me like I was crazy and said my eyes are fine and get dialyses yearly or every 2 years and your visual acuity has remained stable so try not to worry then found out she lowered my astigmatism to -1.75 on my right eye instead of -2.25.

I am in nursing school and finally found a career I am so excited about and I fear I am going blind and not being able to love my life as a nurse or have children and see them and drive and such.
Is there any hope? I spend ALOT of time on the computer...should I stop this? I also understand I NEED to find a regular Ophthalmologist for my eye care.  I never knew optometrists were not MDs.
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233488 tn?1310693103
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