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• Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-08 11:49:04 By Patrick S
• Hi I was diagnosed with Myopic Degeneration last April 07. I just got back from a follow up with my retinal specialist and praise God he didn't see anything that it had progressed (its been about 9 months)
  What is your experience with time of progression? I have heard it differs by case and some even takes years to advance

• Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-08 12:06:01 By Patrick S
• BTW, I think I have the dry kind and still have 20/20 in both eyes but not sure how long it is going to last.

• Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-09 10:13:44 By TEY K
• Hi Patrick,
  
  Sorry to hear that you are being diagnosed with myopic degeneration.
  
  Same like you, I was also diagnosed with myopic degeneration in April 07. And like you, so far it seems like it has not progressed into something worse and I am still having quite decent visual acuity of between 6/7.5 to 6/9.
  
  I also fear for the worse.
  
  It seems to be if your prescription keeps going up, then the worse it is going to be.
  
  Mine was the dry type at present, though at that time of diagnosis, there was a small bleeding which gradually subsided.
  
  I was also diagnosed with lacquer cracks.
  
  Like you, I thought about how long does it take to progress, how long more do I have my present eyesight etc, and I sought to find out the answers, but really no one can tell. Not even the RS.
  
  It seems like every individual case is different, and is fairly unpredictable.
  
  My RS did mentioned to me alot of myopic degen patients will develope choroidal neovascularisation membrane (CNVM). She gave me a rough estimate about 10%.
  
  So, I supposed if CNV is not present, vision loss will be more gradual. As for how gradual, I also don't know.
  
  Btw, just curious, how old are you and how high is your prescriptions?
  
  
  Best Regards
  
  
  
  

• Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-09 12:11:07 By Patrick S
• Hi Tey
  I am 38. My Rx is L -14.5, R 14.0 (glasses). I am glad for you as well. I think it is pretty much understood that only time will tell on how long. I even heard that of some people of not have any progression in for several years now. Just make sure your diet is good accompanied by exercise.
  
  How old are you and your Rx?

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-10 03:27:11 By TEY K
• Dear Patrick,
  
  I am 33 and my prescriptions are -18D,-20D.
  
  My RS said she had seen some patients who had this condition for eight to nine years and they are still fine. I certainly hope we all fall into such category of patients.
  
  Btw, do you experience any bleeding or distortion in your eyes? My RS also reminded me if I see any unusual symptons, go back asap.
  
  If you don't have any lesions like patchy atrophy, lacquer cracks and staphyloma, I think chances are you will be fine for a long, long time to come.
  
  Besides MMD, I also had posterior staphyloma and lacquer cracks, so I don't really feel optimistic about my condition, though I kept reminding myself to be so.
  
  Have to keep reminding myself to be optimistic and to get on with life and avoid sinking into depression. At this point of time, to me the greatest impact of learning about the condition is more on the psychological side, rather than physical.
  
  I had not done much in the diet part except to eat more leafy green veges and fish oils. One friend who also had this condition suggested taking supplements for the eyes, though I did not.
  
  One thing that I am curious to know. Since you are older than me, maybe you can shed some insights. Does your Rx still increases or has it stabilised long ago?
  
  I have also asked my RS before about the possibilty and rate of MMD progression. Unfortunately, she did not give me a very difinite or clear answer except to say have to monitor over a period of time and come back for regular eye checkup.
  
  Sadly, I guess at this point of time, there is only that much modern science can do for myopic people like us.
  
  

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-10 10:09:22 By Patrick S
• Hi Tey,
  
  I had a lacquer crack when I was diagnosed in April 07 but none since then. I understand how you are feeling that it is now a psychological battle. You really never know how the progression with go, like you said it may take years and in some cases if the myopia doesn't any worse, it stabilizes. Our body is a funny thing
  
  I take some Lutien and Beta Carotene. I exercise and try eating healthier. For me, I use this to grow my spiritual life. The psychological part is something we can do something about. For me it is being positive and keeping my faith with Jesus. I truly believe He will take care of the physical part.
  
  Do not be discouraged. As long as you have support systems, it will be fine. Whatever religious walk you have, grow it.
  
  It is hard for also, from time to time. I am up and down. What do you do for work? What state do you live in. I am in Seattle

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-10 10:13:01 By Patrick S
• How did you know you had Stypaloma? Did you RS tell you that or is that a visual symptom?

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-14 20:20:42 By TEY K
• Hi Patrick,
  
  I am glad for you that you have strong faith spiritually. Not so for me, that is maybe why I find it rather hard to deal with the psychological part of this.
  
  You mean you had lacquer crack when you were diagnosed and now it's no longer there? Well, I don't know that lacquer crack will heal on it's own. My RS never mention. You mean you RS told you so? I wonder is it a natural progression for people with degenerative myopia that more cracks will form as time goes? Does anybody has any idea?
  
  I live in Singapore, which is in Southeast Asia. I used to work as an Accountant, but has changed line since. Sometimes I wonder does doing close work at this age will still make the myopia increases further. My RS said no, but still, I tried not to do too much close work, as I couldn't remove my mental block yet.
  
  Staphyloma is an out-pouching of the scelral. It is commonly presented in those with high myopia. That's what I read. But I can't see my own staphyloma. My RS told me so when I asked whether if I have. My take is if I don't ask, she wouldn't have told me :)

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-15 12:48:57 By Patrick S
• Hi Tek,
  Actually, I still have the crack but so far nothing more. In fact, the reason why I was diagnosed with MD is because of the lacquer crack
  
  My RS told me that myopia when you hit your 30s, your eye stops growing. The older you are the more likely it will not get worse anymore. At 33, your should stop growing at least that is what I understood.
  
  . Like you said, there are cases where it could take a long time for it to progress or even progress at all. Just keep eating healthy and exercise, it will only help
  
  Do you still wear glasses or contacts? Can they still correct you with 20/20

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-18 01:08:32 By TEY K
• Hi Patrick,
  
  My vision is correctable to about 6/7.5 - 6/9, which i think equivalent to 20/25-20/30. Right now I am wearing quite under-corrected specs of
  -14D and -16D, which I have been wearing for a five years ever since the last time I made my specs.
  
  But I think the under-correction has became more pronounced lately, as I don't see quite well, especially during sunset and night time. So, that is to say, my myopia has increased from when I was 28 to now. One of the RS that I visited said exactly like what you said, that is, at this age, the eyeball will not grow any longer.
  
  So, if that's the case, the condition shouldn't be progressing, but apparently that doesn't seem to be the case for pathological myopia. I've read literature in the internet that the retina can still be stretched over time, apparently by the stretching of the scelral and the choroidal-Bruch membrane complex. I don't know how true this is.
  
  Did you ask your RS how likely is the condition to progress? I will ask my RS this question in my next visit. From what she sounds, myopic degeneration seems to be not so uncommon down here in Singapore. In fact, high myopia of more than -10D are also not that uncommon, though those with myopic degeneration, I only knew of one personally. Btw, does your Rx still increases or has it stabilised?
  
  My last eye checkup before this bleeding incident happened was done more than 13 years back. So, I suspect my lacquer cracks should have been around for quite awhile (just my suspicions tho my RS does not confirm), and it's just that it has been lying low and nothing happens that disturbs my vision, so everything looks fine to me, until the bleeding incident in April 07. That prompted me to go to the RS.
  
  How about you? What prompted you to go for eye checkup that diagnosed the crack? Do you go for regular eye checkup prior to the diagnosis, and does it mean in all your previous checkups, everything was fine until April 07? My last one 13 years' back, when I was 20, the army doctor who examined me did not mention about cracks or myopic degeneration, though I think he did remarked that my retina was very thin, if I do remember correctly.
  
  Btw, do you family members or siblings has any history of severe myopia?
  
  
  Regards,
  Tey
  
  
  

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-22 12:25:26 By Patrick S
• Hi Tey,
  
  My RS confirmed though he probably suspects of Pathological Myopia that it is unlikely that my eyes will grow or stretch any more at my age (38). I am not sure of how true this is. I guess each individual is different. I am hoping
  
  There were some encouraging messages I read in the message board that some people have had it for quite some time and they are still fine. It sounds like you are still doing considerably quite well. My suggestion is to continue exercise and healthy diet. I heard that diet has a lot to do with it as well
  
  I am not sure if it is even worth it but there is an implant procedure high myopes can have to correct up to -20 D Rx. It is a a lens implant. But I think you have to check with your doctor if one is a candidate
  
  MD is tough because you never know when it can turn for the worse. It's a challenge because now one is more conscious about the distortions (. I seem to be specially after I was diagnosed.
  
  Keep you head up. I think you will be fine

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2007-12-24 21:07:44 By TEY K
• Hi Patrick,
  
  Merry Christmas to you!
  
  Thank you for your encouragements and well wishes. I hope you too will have a blessed and joyous christmas. Yesterday I just attended a musical put up by my church and it was wonderful!
  
  I agree with you that the dreadful thing about MD is you never know when will it happen. Just like I had a friend who told me he can even visited his RS yesterday, checked and everything seems to be ok, then who knows the next day he had a bleed.
  
  I dread the kind of unpredictability, but irregardless, will have to learn to live with it. I feel sad, but life still has to go on.
  
  Btw, are you seeing any distortions?
  
  I will be seeing my RS tomorrow. :-)
  

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2008-01-18 12:02:05 By Sally T
• Hello,
  
  I have had myopic degeneration for maybe 10 years or more, although it was misdiagnosed as histoplasmosis until I had a bleed a year ago. Avastin saved the day and my vision is back to 20/20. Anyway, my Rx continues to change and I'm 62. Don't know what it actually is because I have lens implants from my cataract surgery 15 years ago. I've had a prescription change every year since I was a child. This last one seemed to be more than usual, and I don't know if that's due to more rapid progression or not. My correction is 20/20 with glasses and contact lenses. Sally

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2008-01-18 14:00:20 By Patrick S
• Hi Sally,
  
  I am not really not sure why your prescription would continue to increase. Like I said in previous thread, my RS said that it is unlikely specially at my age. But of course that is not saying it is not possible.
  
  What is your prescription? Do you still have lens implants - that may be the cause but who knows....

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Myopic Degeneration Progression
• Posted: 2008-01-18 14:29:17 By Sally T
• Yes, I still have lenses implanted. When cataracts are removed these days, they implant a corrective lens into the eye. I walked out of that surgery with 20/20 vision without glasses. Over the years, my prescription continued to gradually change as it always had, so now I wear contacts or glasses for distant vision. My ophthalmologist has not found that unusual.
  
  My younger brother and sister have high degrees of myopia also, although no degeneration so far. Their prescriptions need changing regularly, too.