Myopia and retinal detachment

Hi there,

I am 21 years old and I have been myopic since I was 10 years old. My
prescription now is 4.5D L and 3.5D R. My doctor says that my eyes are
OK, but I would like to know if I have a high risk of suffer a retinal
detachment (now or some years later). Is thisk risk much higher than
in a "normal" eye? I have been looking for some statistics about this
and I don't find any. I always read that you must take care if you
have more than -6.0 diopters... but what about -4.5 and -3.5?

Another question. My myopia has only increased 0.5D in each eye since
I was 14 years old, so it's "almost" stationary. But I always read
that myopia increases quickly until 20 or 21 years old. Any
explanation?

Thanks in advance,

Julio.

 

My eyes worsened throughtout my life until I was about 50, when they were around
-7.0 - then at 55, I had an RD in my right eye.

The stat for the general population is around 1 in 10000 suffer.

There's very little you can do, except keep to your regular eye exams, and
educate yourself as to the symptoms of the onset of an RD.

For my story, see www.allmyeye.fsnet.co.uk

I shouldn't worry - the traffic is more likely to get you

cheers Jim

 

(Julio C. Gom) wrote in message
Dear Julio,

Because of my interest in the dynamic behavior of the
natural eye, I spent a good deal of time working with
Dr. Francis Young. He provided me with a paper
called, "Morbidity from Myopia". Roughly he stated
that the probability went up with the degree of
myopia. From memory, I believe the rate was 1 in 1,000
for -6 diopters of myopia.

Best,

Otis
Engineer

*****

 

1 in 1000 for -6 diopters seems a low risk. In a previous reply,
Robert said that those with more than -6.0 have a 5% risk. I have been
looking for some info and I have found both statements. It doesn't
have sense.

The only explanation is that the risk is 1 in 1000 if you have -6.0D
and 5% (or 1 in 20) if you have -6.0 _OR MORE_ diopters. But this
difference is really big, I don't understand it. I am confused. Aren't
there enough studies about it? The paper that you talk about is from
1979. If the rate is 1/1000 for -6.0D myopics, why are them considered
a "risk group"?

I have also read that people with more than -5.0D or more have a 2%
risk.

Thanks,

Julio.

 

The risk, whatever it is, is *minimal* - as yourself how many people you know
who have had retinal detachments? I guess none. How many people have posted in
this specific news group over the last two years? Very few - certainly under
twenty.

Leeds is a cuty with a population of about 500000 - during the two days I was
in the hospital there were 3 RDs in surgery, including mine.

J

 

Yes, I think you are right, 1/1000 should be an annual risk. If you
know that RD occurs in 1 of every 15000 people (yearly), 50% of
detachments are caused by (high) myopia, 25% of the population is
myopic and 1 out of 10 myopics have more than -6D, you can apply some
maths (Bayes) and you have "almost" the same result (
0.5*(1/15000)/(0.25*0.1) ).

1 in 20 sounds like an high risk...

 

Well, I have met only one person who has had a RD. I know that the
risk is low, but the doctor always talk to me about this problem like
if I were going to have a detachment next week. This scares me.

 

Dear Robert and Julio,

It was obviously the intent of Dr. Perkins to specify a
life-time average (not yearly risk). But you get this
impression from reading the entire article on, "Morbidity
from Myopia."

I think the 1 in 1,000 is for the individual. That
is the probability that one of the the two
eyes will develop a detached retina in that person's
life time.

Fortunately, the "repair" done by lasers is good,
and if caught it time, the retina can be stiched back
on to the sclera. If not, the retina drifts out
into the vitereous -- and that is what causes
the blindness.

So -- if you see "curve" lines (like bike tires that
are bent), and "colored sparks", find an
eye doctor as rapidly as possible.

Best,

Otis
Engineer

 

You said :- "My doctor says that my eyes are OK" - that's the bit to believe.
Once again, there is *no point* worrying about stuff you can do nothing about.
Like many issues that arise on this ng this is much more a psychological problem
than a physical one. Take the cards you are dealt, get on with your life, sort
stuff out when it happens.

If some one says "your risk is exactly 1 in 4302" how will that help you? It's
not like dentistry, there is no preventive or pre-emptive action you can take,
Remember - I've *had* an RD - scary? yes. fixed? yes. Being alive is a risk.

That's the end of my "uncle" talk.

good luck Jim

 

1 in 20 is certainly rubbish - if that was the case, every one you met would
know someone who's had an RD, and I know two, one of whom was me

And there are more agressive forma of surgery, as I had, with very high success
rates.

Like any illness, if you know what to look out for - and usually the symtoms are
pretty obvious, you can get it fixed : "blindness" is way way way down the
road.

I caught my RD the instant it happened - from that point to surgery was 48
hours, the outcome was 100% recovery of sight in that eye.

J
www.allmyeye.fsnet.co.uk

 

It is desirable to be scared enough that you will be motivated to call the
doctor as soon as you think you might have one, but not scared enough that
it affects your life in any other way. There's really nothing you can do
to prevent it (I recommend not taking up boxing, though ), and the
chances of recovering your vision are good if you get it taken care of
right away.

 

Prevention is not really possible, you can have early detection and early
treatment.

When he was 8, he suffered a giant tear that multiple surgeries were

Sounds like you are getting good, proactive care to help with detection of
future tears.

Still I know he's at high risk for another RD. He's

You are doing all you can.

Dr Judy