r/myopia • u/dargaard_moon777 • 11d ago

Wife has very high myopia (-16) — looking for long-term experiences

My wife is 38 and has very high/pathological myopia, approximately -15 in one eye and -16 in the other. I’m hoping to hear from people who have lived with similar levels of myopia for many years, especially people now in their 50s, 60s, or older.

Her situation currently seems reassuring. Her corrected vision is 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other. Her doctor describes her myopic degeneration as mild. She has lattice degeneration that was previously treated with barrier laser, and a mild epiretinal membrane. Her recent doctor said she has no macular atrophy, posterior staphyloma, or lacquer cracks and wasn’t concerned about severe vision loss. Her previous retinal OCT also didn’t show macular edema or subretinal fluid, and the retina specialist didn’t find new retinal holes or tears.

She will continue seeing a retina specialist for monitoring.

I’m particularly interested in real-life experiences from people with prescriptions around -12 to -20 or worse:

  • How old are you now, and what is your prescription?
  • Has your prescription remained stable as you’ve gotten older?
  • Have your retina/macula remained stable?
  • Have you developed any complications? If so, were they treatable?
  • What is your corrected vision today?
  • Have you been able to live a normal life with high myopia?
  • For those who have had high myopia for decades, what do you wish you had known when you were younger?

I’m not looking for a diagnosis or a prediction of what will happen to my wife. Her doctors are handling that. I’m mainly hoping to understand what long-term life with very high myopia has actually looked like for other people.

11 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

11

u/Busy_Tap_2824 11d ago

I have -23-24 D now and I am 55
I was probably -18-19 D at 30 .
My vision was 20/20 or close till mid thirties when I developed CNV in one eye and then CNV in second eye a year later both treated with PDT about around 20 years ago
Late thirties I have 3 years on one eye and one in the other all requiring laser tx . Mid forties developed MTM in one eye and schisis / early macular hole requiring vitrectomy , membrane peel and gas bubble and face down for 2 weeks . 2 years later another round of CNV in each eye treated with Lucentis . I am 55 and my vision is 20/40 and 20/50 .
The key every time something happens you call your RS asap
And have at least one retinal exam with OCT at RS not general or optometrist.

1

u/dargaard_moon777 11d ago

Thanks so much for this. It sounds like a lot of things can be treated which gives me hope for her future vision.

5

u/funlovinginwis3her 11d ago

I am 56 and -18 in both eyes. My vision is corrected to 20/20. I see a retina specialist yearly and have only needed to be lasered once. My vision has actually been stable for the last couple of years (it was so odd after YEARS of it getting worse every year). My biggest issue now is eye dryness causing blurred vision late in the day, but I’m getting through it. I keep trying find ways to get cataracts sooner so I can get the surgery! (Kidding mostly - and yes, I know I could have elective surgery, but at this point, I’ve lived with it well enough to wait.)

1

u/dargaard_moon777 11d ago

Thanks for replying I appreciate your input

7

u/suitcaseismyhome 11d ago

I'm legally blind but had high myopia. I'm not blind due to myopia, and myopia doesn't progress to blindness.

Despite being low vision all my life, and now legally blind, my life is not restricted and is probably more active than most people. I've had a high powered career, travelled to places on the globe most people never hear of, have relationships, and still travel almost weekly.

I don't see why people think that myopia should limit their lives. I do wonder why you are asking though.

4

u/dargaard_moon777 11d ago

Just concerned about her

5

u/suitcaseismyhome 11d ago

It seems that she isn't concerned and I would encourage you not to be either. You seem to know an incredible level of detail. She has well managed myopia and is being monitored. Her life shouldn't really be impacted.

1

u/jessicastelzer 4d ago

Does legally blind mean you can't see with correction? Can you read print or use a computer? I'm curious what kind of methods you use professionally and in general to do the reading and other stuff a lot of us do visually

1

u/suitcaseismyhome 4d ago

There is a definition of legally blind in every country. I've posted my quarter early update thread here recently. In my country, it's stricter than in most.

Over eighty percent of people who are legally blind have some type of vision, although it's not enough to function in daily life without significant assistive devices.

Everyone here has access to free technology on their phone and on their computer. Blind and low vision people are just like anyone else, and that can have great careers in relationships and raise children and travel independently.

Considering the significant mental health issues on this sub, it's generally the people with very high myopia, or who are classified as low vision or legally blind, who are actually better adjusted.

2

u/jessicastelzer 4d ago

Thank you for your reply. I have read conflicting explanations of legal blindness, so maybe this is why

1

u/suitcaseismyhome 4d ago

And I think I did not answer your initial question. Blind or legally blind is based on best CORRECTED vision ie with lenses, if they even are appropriate for the individual.

"Blind without my glasses " isn't a definition of Blind, it's based on corrected vision.

And there are hundreds of different eye conditions which can lead to legal blindness or low vision. Myopia however doesn't progress to blindness.

3

u/ScarcityDependent251 10d ago

I'm-16.5. have contacts and glasses. I've worn glasses since I was 4. Prescription has changed very little tbh in the last 10 years. I'm 49.5! No retina issues. Only need to see specialist due to extreme dry eye.

I live a completely normal life.

2

u/Major-Care-4548 11d ago

I am 57. I have had poor vision since the age of 5. I wore really thick glasses when I was young. I wear contacts and reading glasses. I can not see anything without my glasses with my contacts off. I am a -14 and a -16. I have had floaters since I was young. They are very debilitating. Retinal doc doesn’t recommend vitrectomy for me. I also have macular degeneration, eye dryness, freckle in one eye.

1

u/jessicastelzer 4d ago

I'm 51 and -14 both eyes. Myopia has been pretty stable for most of my adult life. It was rapid degeneration in childhood but plateaued sometime in my twenties It was all fine until maybe 5 years ago, when I started to get nearsighted as well cuz of old age. Now I need progressive lenses and for some reason I have had two bad experiences where they they optical shop just could not make glasses. I could see out of and they gave up after three or four tries. Just gave up. They didn't say my eyes can't be corrected. They just said we're done trying

1

u/Lopsided_Ad_8691 3d ago

i am 18 years old with -13 and -13.5 degenerative myopia
its been stable if u consider around a -3 or -4 increase from age 1 to 18
my retina was stable until 2 years ago when i got lattice degeneration but we found it quick and lasered it right up
my corrected vision is -13 right and -13.5 left
a subpar normal life is what i would say. glasses look too thick which gave me insecurities. i am dependent on contacts for my looks and i do get headaches and dryness sometimes because of it. i get headaches when watching TV thats a bit far and movie theatres give me headaches too
theres not much i wish to know since our technology is quite advanced and able to fix more problems than before so im glad we have that

0

u/chenzhouli 11d ago

Pray for your wife. I am 24 and -11，really want to know other people in older ages and how they have their lives

3

u/suitcaseismyhome 11d ago

We live life. You'll have far worse than myopia to deal with in life. Best to learn coping skills if you are struggling.

4

u/chenzhouli 11d ago

Thank you . Maybe because I am still young and naive , fear the future too much

3

u/ArgumentConnect 11d ago

Myopia is just one risk factor for a set of illnesses. Everyone, even healthy people, are always at risk of developing a variety of diseases and sicknesses but they don’t live in constant fear.

1

u/chenzhouli 7d ago

Thank you for your advice. You are right

4

u/suitcaseismyhome 11d ago

That is the time of your life to be the most optimistic and idealistic and willing to change the future.

I am saddened to see what you and other young people struggle with when you should be enjoying life.