HomeAnswersOphthalmology (Eye Care)myopiaI have myopia -4 in power and I am not eligible for LASIK. Is this progressive?

Will myopia -4 in power progress as I am not eligible for LASIK?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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Published At January 29, 2019
Reviewed AtJuly 17, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have myopia -4 in power and I am not eligible for LASIK. I am 25. Is this progressive? What long-term complications can be there as my cornea thickness is too low for LASIK surgery.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Even though your power of - 4 is well within the correctable range and your power has been stable for two years, your corneas were too thin on topography maps for surgery (attachment removed to protect patient identity). The doctors deferred surgery because, during the process of LASIK, we will be removing tissue from your cornea and in a cornea not thick enough this can cause problems like for example keratoconus or in severe cases perforation. Regarding the long-term implications, thin corneas are harmless and usually do not progress unless associated with keratoconus or other similar problems. In case you do have keratoconus, it may show some progress in thinning during pregnancy and lactation. In case you still want to be spectacle-free, the option of implantable contact lenses is viable, provided there are no additional problems in your eye.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

How do I tell if I have keratoconus? Any symptoms? Is implantable contact surgery risk-free? Is my myopia going to progressively increase as I get older? Say at 40 years of age?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

In keratoconus, the earliest symptom that patients experience is a drop in vision. The best way to confirm the diagnosis of keratoconus is simply by the same scans that you have undergone before surgery. These scans are essentially done to rule out thin corneas and keratoconus. About implantable contact lens being surgery risk-free, I can tell you that no surgery is risk-free and no surgeon can ever guarantee 100 % results anywhere in the world. The commonest problems we see are corneal edema and the more serious ones are glaucoma and endophthalmitis. The greatest advantage here is that this procedure is repeatable and reversible. Regarding your myopia going to increase further, say by 40, it is quite unpredictable. That is why we ask for follow-ups to pick up any signs of power change as early as possible. By 40 you may also develop presbyopia for which you will need reading glasses.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Manjunath Natarajan
Dr. Manjunath Natarajan

Ophthalmology (Eye Care)

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