How can I know if I have severe nearsightedness.?

Question

I had Lazik surgery in 1998. They said I was moderate.My vision they said was L.eye 400/20. My R. eye 200/20.I had to have cataract surgery In both eyes (Jan. and Apr.-2004).My retina detached( 6-2004) causing me to have ER.surgery. The clinic that I think caused it ( which I'm not sure if they did)is saying I had severe nearsighted before Lazik .So I don't know if my eyes were.

Answer 1

Lets get the numbers straightened up to begin with...that would be 20/400 and 20/200...the 20 goes first.

Your glasses were probably quite thick before the lasik surgery.

You most likely were quite severely nearsighted, although other factors could have contributed to that low a visual acuity also.

High myopia ( nearsightedness) can often lead to retinal detachment. It was probably quite weak in your case because of that.

Legally blind is when the best CORRECTED vision can't achieve better than 20/200...not what the vision is without glasses.

Answer 2

Visual acuity is reported as 20/200 or 20/400. If you had an uncorrected vision at those ranges and underwent LASIK for that then you may have had a moderate myopia or nearsightedness. In the past severe myopia was above -6.0. These days severe nearsightedness may just mean you won't be a good candidate for LASIK because you are way beyond what the LASIK machine can handle, i.e -8.00 or even more. But if you had a spectacle correction less than -8.00 before your LASIK that would fall as moderate.

Answer 3

yes 400/20 and 200/20 is severe nearsightedness.

i think at 40/20 or 60/20 you need glasses to drive and 200/20 is considered legally blind without glasses.