Month: February 2014

Common Cornea Disorders

There are some common eye disorders that are caused by the abnormal shape of the eye. One such condition is ectasia, a disorder that causes the cornea to bulge outward. LASIK surgery causes this by weakening the cornea. Other, naturally caused disorders include keratoconus and astigmatism. Keratoconus is caused when the cornea thins, causing it to bulge outward in a cone shape. Astigmatism, on the other hand, is a result of the cornea or lens curving in a different direction.

Common Optic Nerve Disorder

Another eye condition that afflicts many different people is glaucoma. This condition is different from other common conditions in that it is caused by elevated eye pressure. This pressure can result in damage to the optic nerve, which in turn can lead to vision loss.

Signs of an Eye Disorder

Although each eye condition is different and might manifest itself in a different way, there are some common signs that point to an eye disorder. If you notice any type of vision loss or blurring, make an appointment with an optometrist for an eye exam. Other common symptoms associated with these conditions could be eye pain, sensitivity and even headaches and nausea.

For those who are suffering from Keratoconus you can break records, and make new strides in your life regardless of your diagnosis. Take a look at Steven Holcomb. He is a professional bobsledder that suffered from an extreme case of Keratoconus. So much so that he almost gave up the one thing he loved in fear that he would hurt his teammates.

His story is one that will be remembered always. His Keratoconus had gotten so severe that he couldn’t see more than a foot in front of him. His sport is bobsledding which requires him to be in the front of the sled guiding it down an extremely dangerous track at horrendous speeds.

But his condition was getting worse and worse. They were preparing for the the biggest world event in bobsledding and wanted to win gold that year. The team found out about his condition and found the Boxer Wachler Institute. After the team gathered the money they paid for his treatments ( C3-R ® to stabilize his vision and Visian ICL to improve his vision without contacts- )both were very successful. Later that year the 4-man US Men’s bobsled team with Steven as the driver won a Gold Medal in 2010.

This is an extremely memorable story about a man who didn’t give up. There are several new treatments that can give you the quality of vision you deserve regardless of your diagnosis. Take the time to review the symptoms and get an annual eye exam it could change your life so you can change the lives of others!

Symptoms:

Blurred vision
Double vision
Frequent changes in prescription
Frequent Rubbing of the eye
Itching
Redness
Halos/glares
Seeing Shadows
Change in vision at night

Early detection is the best way to get ahead of Keratoconus. If you have changes in vision, or you have a history of Keratoconus in the family contact your eye care professional for frequent and annual eye exams.

Watch Steven’s story about overcoming Keratoconus to win a Gold Medal:  Steven Holcomb Overcoming Keratoconus