Does laser operation work for severe myopia?!
Question: A child of 5 yrs is severely myopic, and wears glasses of 10.5,11 power for the last six months.It was diagnosed that her eyeball size is larger than normal. Doctors say that once she is 18+, she can go in for corrective surgery.Till then , her myopia is going to get more severe with each passing year.Nothing we can do in terms of diet and exercise can help her .
Has anyone with similar symptoms got surgery done and benefitted? Also, is there anything I can do now to improve her vision and ensure that the number does not increase every year? .
Answers: A child of 5 yrs is severely myopic, and wears glasses of 10.5,11 power for the last six months.It was diagnosed that her eyeball size is larger than normal. Doctors say that once she is 18+, she can go in for corrective surgery.Till then , her myopia is going to get more severe with each passing year.Nothing we can do in terms of diet and exercise can help her .
Has anyone with similar symptoms got surgery done and benefitted? Also, is there anything I can do now to improve her vision and ensure that the number does not increase every year? .
There's very little special you should be doing. This sort of myopia is essentially genetic in origin.
She should be encouraged to keep as long a working distance for closework as is feasible, rather than jam her nose right into picturebooks and computer screens and the TV. And to take breaks from closework, to re-establish distance focus.
But that's good advice for *all* children.
Other things will depend on her eyes:
You can enquire concerning at what age her doctor considers contact lenses will be a possibility.
And whether, if the Rx rises steadily (which is, I'm afraid the likely thing), using older, weaker, glasses for closework might be a useful policy.
When the eyes have finished growing, she is likely to be outside the range for laser refractive surgery, at least with currrent techniques, but there are other options including
"Insertable contact lenses" (Anterior chamber implants) to deal with refractive errors with high numbers.
Optometrist, retired, (with an Rx which also hits -11.25)
I've heard that it's not as effective as correcting those who have the condition less severely. She probably will still need glasses but with a weaker prescription.
Patients who are suitable for surgery need to meet the following criteria:
* A refraction in the range of +4.50 to -9.50 Dioptres.
* Levels of Astigmatism up to 6 Dioptres.
* Over 18 years old.
* Not pregnant or breastfeeding.
* A refraction stable for two years.
* You should have healthy corneas - your opthalmologist will advise you of this.
If you are eighteen years of age or older and wear glasses for long or short-sightedness or for astigmatism, you may benefit from corrective laser eye surgery. At your first consultation you will be given a thorough eye examination to make sure that your eyes are healthy and stable. If you are pregnant or nursing, or if you have certain health conditions, you may not be a suitable candidate for the laser treatment. Melbourne eye surgeon Dr Noel Alpins will advise you if there is any reason why you should not proceed with laser eye surgery.