Can an eye go for laser surgery with the power of -10 and -9?

LASIK (and PRK) were originally FDA approved for treating even such high levels of myopia (nearsightedness). But more recent experience and data have shown that the threshold for long-term stability and safety in laser vision correction is probably about -6 to -7 Diopters, maybe even lower. While LASIK can be highly effective in such high-myopia cases (at least in the short run), there is a direct, proportional relationship between how much myopia is being treated and how much cornea thinning occurs as a result. Long-term destabilization of the cornea (ectasia) can be a serious problem and won't show up typically for many years.

LASIK is an extremely safe and effective procedure to treat myopia, but should be conservatively used for the best long-term safety and results. There are other alternatives for -10 Diopter cases that may be safer (e.g. the ICL).

_Written by J. Trevor Woodhams, M.D. - Chief of Surgery, Woodhams Eye Clinic