My Journey With High Myopia

My name is Alex, and I am from the Philippines. My journey
with poor eyesight began when I was still in elementary school. I was already
wearing eyeglasses at a very young age. As the years passed, my myopia became
stronger, and seeing clearly became increasingly difficult.

I never imagined that something as simple as seeing the world around me would
eventually become one of the biggest challenges of my life.

I am now in my early 60s, and I continue to struggle with very high myopia.
My vision is often severely blurred, and I have difficulty focusing even when
wearing very strong corrective lenses.

My Vision Became More Difficult After My Stroke

In 2017, I suffered a stroke. After my stroke, I became even more concerned
about my eyesight because I noticed changes in my vision and increasing
difficulty focusing.

My eye specialist documented that I have
very high myopia in both eyes (OU) and
amblyopia in my right eye (OD).
My recorded visual acuity was approximately
counting fingers at 2 feet in my right eye and
20/200 in my left eye.

These findings have made me realize that my vision problem is more than simply
needing a stronger pair of glasses. I need continuing professional eye care
to understand what is happening inside my eyes and how I can protect the
vision I still have.

What Is High Myopia?

Myopia, commonly called nearsightedness, occurs when the eye
focuses incoming light in front of the retina rather than directly on the
retina. As a result, distant objects appear blurry.

High myopia refers to a much stronger degree of
nearsightedness than ordinary myopia. High myopia is commonly defined as
approximately -6.00 diopters or more, although definitions
can vary depending on the medical context.

Very high or pathological myopia can be associated with structural changes
in the eye, particularly elongation of the eyeball. In some people, these
changes can increase the risk of complications involving the retina, macula,
optic nerve, glaucoma, cataracts, or retinal detachment.

This is one reason why people with very high myopia may need regular
comprehensive eye examinations rather than simply replacing their glasses
whenever their prescription changes.

Why My Glasses Are Not Enough

One of my greatest difficulties is finding the correct vision correction.
Because my prescription is extremely high, high-power eyeglasses and contact
lenses are expensive.

I have been trying to manage with approximately -20.00 diopter
eyeglasses and -19.00 disposable contact lenses,
but these do not provide the clear vision I need. I continue to experience
significant blurriness and difficulty focusing.

I also have an additional problem: the eye examination document I have does
not clearly state the complete spectacle prescription that I currently need.
Therefore, I need another comprehensive examination and accurate refraction
to determine the appropriate correction for each eye.

Unfortunately, specialist consultations and diagnostic tests can be
expensive, and my financial situation makes it difficult for me to continue
receiving the care I need.

My Greatest Fear: Losing My Sight

The question that often comes into my mind is:
“Will I eventually become blind?”

I don’t know what the future holds. But I know that my vision is extremely
important to me. Being able to see allows me to work, read, communicate,
move around safely, and maintain as much independence as possible.

I am afraid of losing the ability to do these everyday things.

At the same time, I don’t want fear to stop me from searching for answers.
I want to understand my condition, follow legitimate medical developments,
and find out whether there are treatments that can protect or improve the
vision I still have.

What I Hope to Find

I hope to have a comprehensive examination by an ophthalmologist experienced
in high or pathological myopia, preferably with appropriate retinal
evaluation and imaging.

I want to know:

• What my exact current prescription is for each eye.
• What my best-corrected visual acuity is.
• Whether I have pathological or degenerative changes associated with high myopia.
• Whether there are retinal or macular complications.
• Whether glaucoma or cataracts are contributing to my reduced vision.
• Whether my previous stroke has contributed to any aspect of my visual problems.
• Whether there are appropriate treatments or procedures that could protect my remaining vision.
• What I can do to monitor my eyes and reduce the risk of preventable complications.

My Hope for the Future

I know that there is currently no simple treatment that can simply reverse
severe adult myopia forever. I also understand that treatments must be based
on a proper medical diagnosis and should be recommended by qualified eye
specialists.

But I continue to hope that advances in ophthalmology and medical research
will eventually provide better options for people living with very high
myopia.

New research continues to explore different aspects of myopia, retinal
disease, genetics, drug treatments, surgical techniques, and regenerative
medicine. I hope that one day scientific breakthroughs will give people like
me better ways to preserve, restore, or improve vision.

Until then, I believe the best thing I can do is stay informed, seek proper
medical care, follow evidence-based treatments, and share my experience with
others who are facing similar challenges.

Why I Share My Story

I am sharing my story because I know there are other people living with
serious vision problems who may feel frightened, confused, or alone.

My goal is to create awareness about very high myopia and encourage people
not to ignore changes in their eyesight. If your vision is deteriorating,
please seek an appropriate eye examination rather than assuming that you
simply need stronger glasses.

I also hope that my story may connect me with eye specialists, researchers,
foundations, charitable organizations, and people who understand the
difficulties faced by those with severe visual impairment.

I Still Have Hope

Living with very high myopia is not easy. There are days when the blurred
vision, financial difficulties, and fear of further deterioration feel
overwhelming.

But I am still searching for answers.

I may not know what the future holds for my eyesight, but I refuse to
give up hope.

I want to continue learning, continue seeking proper medical care, and
continue looking forward to advances in eye science that may someday help
people like me.

If you are also living with very high myopia, please know that you are not
alone. Let us learn from reliable medical information, support one another,
and continue hoping for a future with better vision.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. God bless you. 🙏👁️