I am glad to inform you that having 1,000 degrees of short-sightedness does not automatically mean that you are not eligible for laser vision correction (LVC) procedures like LASIK and ReLEx SMILE. What is important to ascertain are the thickness and shape of your corneas, and the overall health of your eyes. I would encourage you to still go for an evaluation to determine your suitability for laser refractive surgery.
Should it be found that you are not suitable for LVC, the alternative technique could be the insertion of an implantable collamar lens (ICL). This technique works best in cases where the refractive errors are in the higher ranges and where the patient may not be suitable for LVC. It works very much like a contact lens but rather than sitting on your cornea, the ICL sits in the space between your iris and natural lens.
The main adavtanges of ICL over LVC are that it corrects far higher levels of refractive errors, it is potentially reversible by way of its removal and there is less potential for complications relating to dry eye or corneal weakening (as in the case of LASIK). The potential downsides of ICL are its significantly higher cost and potential complications relating to earlier development of cataracts or glaucoma.
All our patients are tested for suitability for both ICL as well as LVC. That way, we are then best able to customise the treatment option to the individual patient.
I wish you every success in your efforts to become spectacles independent.
Dr David Chan
