High myopia risk
Posted , 6 users are following.
I would appreciate views. I am a 52 year old man, living in the UK. I have been short sighted since 7 years old and am -6 in my left eye and -7 in my right. I have been struggling with presbyopia a bit but also with some glaring around lights at night. I have been told I have early cataracts. I am now in a situation where I seem to have to see the cataracts progress but if I have to bite the bullet and have surgery, I am at a high risk of a retinal detachmemt or a poor visual outcome. I feel pretty despondent and scared about it. Can anyone provide me with some hope or advice? I dont know if it is permitted on this forum but any recommendation for a surgeon who might specialise in this sort of situation? Thank you.
0 likes, 9 replies
soks james48179
Posted
the good news is that the RD risk is somewhat reduced after 50 as the vitreous has liquefied.
the long eye causing myopia still keeps the risk.
if vision is not affected then hold off on the surgery.
trilemma james48179
Posted
There is laser treatment to reattach a detached retna. I wonder if there is any instance where this procedure is done before the retna actually detaches.
I certainly don't have any knowledge of UK eye surgeons. But if I did I would wonder how far you were willing to travel. But now that I think about it, if you were not in the London area, you would have probably specified that already.
RonAKA james48179
Edited
I am not a medical professional but your myopia does not seem that it is really that high. Some have myopia in the -10 to -12 range. That is high myopia. Not sure if your risk of retinal detachment is that high either, but a cautious approach would be to see a retina specialist now to get an opinion on the risk and if there is anything that can be done to reduce the risk.
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My thoughts would be to look at this as an opportunity to reduce your myopia with IOLs. Since it sounds like your cataracts are at an early stage, now would be the time to simulate mini-monovision with contacts while your vision is still good. Mini-monovision is one of the lowest risk methods of getting very good eyeglasses free vision. It only requires basic monofocal lenses which I understand are fully covered in the UK. But, it is best to simulate it before jumping into it.
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Unless you have other eye issues there is nothing to suggest that you could not be corrected to get very good vision either with the help of glasses or without if mini-monovision is used.
trilemma james48179
Posted
In addition to sph numbers, which I think you posted, you need to get the cyl numbers (astigmatism). That will be a big factor in what IOLs could be suitable for you. Actually you probably already have those numbers. An eyeglass prescription normally has 3 numbers per eye.
jimluck james48179
Edited
The biggest risk factor for retinal detachment is young age (5x higher under 60 than over). So, if you can wait for surgery, do so. I was around 50 when first told I had cataracts. I'm 73 now and surgery is still not necessary. I too am -6, -7 myopic.
Yeah, I have rainbow halos around headlights at night. So what? I think they're kind of pretty. My cataract density is 2+.
My optometrist sent me for cataract evaluation when she couldn't correct me to 20/20 any more. That was a year ago. So now I'm at 20/25. I can live with that. I know cataract surgery is coming for me, and it's good to read up on it and think it through well in advance, but there's no rush to actually do it, I feel.
Feeling despondent and scared -- the solution for that, in my opinion is acceptance. You are going to deteriorate and die, just like every living thing before you. None of us is getting out of here alive. It is very liberating and exhilarating to accept that reality. I am happier, more at peace and more satisfied at 73 than I have been since early childhood. I wouldn't trade it for any younger age. Freaking out at each sign of deterioration would really spoil the fun of being old. Acceptance is a very powerful and salutary tonic. Embrace and savor what you have, but don't cling to it. Everything is transitory.
billy111 jimluck
Posted
I really like your last paragraph. Excellent advice. Although exercise and diet have nothing to do with cataracts or retinal detachment, I think both are extremely important. The actor Harrison Ford is in incredible physical condition. Google "Harrison Ford cycling images." Look at his muscular forearms. He was 78 that time!
jimluck billy111
Posted
Diet, exercise, diverse intellectual and creative activities, family, social interactions -- they all help to keep one's spirits up and make life enjoyable. But I find acceptance is the foundation of it all. You can exercise and look like Mr. America at 80 -- but stuff's still going to go wrong, and body parts are going to fail and death still awaits. Acceptance will let you deal with all that.
Take two 80-year-olds -- one is an athlete and eats all the right stuff, but hasn't accepted his own mortality; and the other is sedentary and eats junk food but has learned the power of acceptance. Which one do you think is happier and more content and tranquil?
billy111 jimluck
Edited
Yes. Acceptance too. We will all "shuffle off this mortal coil." But we must take care of ourselves as well, else we hasten our own demise. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity and other diseases can largely be prevented or ameliorated with moderate exercise (one need not bike 40 miles a day like Mr. Ford) and proper diet. It is quite possible to be old, healthy and yet still accept one's own mortality.
jimluck billy111
Posted
yes