best eyeglass lenses for extreme myopia?

Hi there,

Here's my prescription:

OD: Sphere: -12.00 Cyl: -0.75 Axis: 066
OS: Sphere: -12.50 Cyl: -1.00 Axis: 172

PD is 63. Also I have quite large eyes, if that makes any difference.

In the past I have tried a variety of lenses:

- Zeiss Lantals (pretty heavy).
- Seiko 1.67 Super SV (probably the best lens I've tried so far).
- Nikon 4 1.67 (too much minification of objects -- everything looks about
30% smaller). Also quite a bit of chromatic abberation.

I just need single vision lenses. Perhaps someone could suggest some good
ones? I've heard good things about Optima HyperIndex 1.66. What exactly do
they mean by "back aspheric?" Does this mean the back of the lens is flat?
I'm currently in Nikon 4 lenses which I think are "front aspheric," (the
front of the lens is flat).

thanks so much,

CA

 

I don't know that much about lenses, despite having worn glasses for 45
years. I tend to think that they are all the same. I do know that
wearing them with a prescription like yours isn't wonderful. I was -12D
at the worst.

It was suggested several times that I try soft contacts. I was adamant
in refusing. My sister got contacts, and it just wasn't something I was
going to deal with.

Later I developed cataract. There were a number of options, but if I
got what I wanted, glasses would cause double vision. I could eliminate
that by wearing a patch over one eye. Neither the double vision nor the
patch sounded like a way to go. It would be a while before surgery was
justified, so the doctor suggested trying contacts in the meantime.
They wouldn't cause double vision.

I tried them and they were so much better than glasses.

They don't work for everybody, and they are a major hassle, first to
learn how to use, and then the maintenance (putting them in, taking them
out and cleaning them). I would highly recommend giving them a try. I
got some glasses as a backup, and the glare and reflections were so
horrible that I only wore them a few times. They were really heavy and
expensive (the high index lenses).

 

Yes, contacts certainly are a vast improvement over glasses. I've worn them
for over 20 years, but I can no longer tolerate them due to dry eyes. LASIK
is out for the same reason. My only options are intraocular lenses (I'm not
willing to risk the surgery yet), and glasses. I've had my fair share of
improperly fitted lenses and want to get it done right this time. Hence my
post to this group . . .

Thanks for replying . . .

 

Lemme' jump in here: I have severe dry eyes (Schirmer's <5mm at 5
minutes OU; Tear Breakup Times <5s OU) with all four puncta
cauterized, but I wear soft contact lenses. I use (Soothe) drops
regularly throughout the day, avoid all the usual things that bother
us dry eye people, wear Panoptx sunglasses when needed for harsh
environments, and use Genteal gel at night.

Are you in worse shape than me, dry eye wise? If not, perhaps there
are other lenses, or other procedures (punctal plugs/Restasis/??),
that would allow you to continue to wear the contact lenses.

I have to imagine that this would still be your preference, no?

Best of luck. I understand the difficulties you're facing.

 

Well, I think I've got you beat My Schirmer's is <1mm at 5 minutes,
although I couldn't tell you what my Tear Breakup Time is. I have had one
(lower) puncta plugged, to see if it made a difference; it didn't. I
suppose I could look into getting upper and lower puncta plugged or
cauterized, though . . .

I occasionally wear my contacts (Proclear Biocompatables, is there something
better?) and marvel at the crystal clear vision, with none of the distortion
that comes with glasses (also I look a helluva lot better) But then the
cloudiness and irritation set in, and back to the coke-bottles I go.
Although I shouldn't complain TOO much, what with high-index lenses\\ and
small frame-sizes, I can get a fairly acceptible pair of glasses.

thanks,

CA