Month: June 2015

Living With Keratoconus

Living with eye troubles or diminishing eyesight can be difficult because these problems can keep you from doing the things you love most. Keratoconus is a progressive eye disorder that causes your cornea to thin and take on a cone-like shape, leading to blurred vision and sensitivity to light. This disorder is becoming more common, and a new study suggests that 1 in 500 people are living with Keratoconus. Understanding the symptoms of Keratoconus will allow you to spot when you may start to develop it and seek treatment from your eye doctor.

Keratoconus patients may notice that they excessively rub their eyes and have trouble seeing at night. In addition, frequent changes to your eyeglass prescription may point to the development of the disorder. It is important to be open with your doctor, friends, and family about your eyesight so you can explore potential treatments before your sight worsens. Talk with your doctor about your symptoms and learn about the next steps for your recovery.

Living With Keratoconus>

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Discovering Keratoconus: Symptoms & Treatments

For those with a family history of Keratoconus you probably already know the severity of the condition; however, if it has been a decade or two you might not be familiar with the newer, more advanced treatment options for Keratoconus.

In the past Keratoconus was mainly treated by using a corneal transplant. Often painful and with long recovery times and complications, they were a necessary but not convenient or desirable procedure. Over the past decades there have been many new treatments developed which cause little to no pain and provide much faster recovery times.

Signs & Symptoms of Keratoconus:

• Frequent Prescription changes
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Light sensitivity
• Halos around lights

Treatments for Keratoconus:

Keratoconus is a progressive condition that causes changes thinning and distortion of the cornea. Over time these changes cause distortions in the vision of the patient. There are several new treatments to strengthen and change the shape and of the cornea before the need for a corneal transplant. The treatment options have been extremely effective and reduced the need for corneal transplants to less than 5%.

Treatments:

Holcomb C3-R® Crosslinking System

Holcomb C3-R® is a non-invasive procedure that uses a Riboflavin solution activated by an ultraviolet light to strengthen the collagen fibers of the cornea. This helps to reduce glare and halos in the vision, while also stopping the progression of the Keratoconus.

The Holcomb C3-R® is a only a 30 minute treatment, however it continues to strengthen the cornea for up to 3-6 months after the treatment. Another great aspect is that it can also be performed in combination with other treatments to improve your results even further.

INTACS®

INTACS® are tiny crescent shaped inserts that are placed within the cornea to help change the shape of the cornea. INTACS® can also be used in combination with the Holcomb C3-R® to reduce distortions and increase comfort of glasses and contacts.
Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)

CK is a vision correction treatment that uses heat to change the shape of the cornea and reduce astigmatism. When combined with the Holcomb C3-R® Crosslinking System, the CK treatment can effectively reduce astigmatism for a period of several years. Due to the nature of the cornea in Keratoconus patients the effect of CK can diminish with time. Patients may elect to have future CK to reduce astigmatism, if needed.

Watch Brad, a resident in general surgery, talk about his Keratoconus treatments, click below.

Cataract Treatment When You Have Keratoconus

As we age, natural circumstances can lead to a decrease in our vision or cause other problems with our eyesight. While most people see an eye doctor to get prescription glasses or contact lenses to improve their vision, there has been little in the way of relief for those with Keratoconus. Keratoconus is a vision disorder that happens when the round cornea becomes thin and cone shaped. This condition prevents light that enters the eye from being focused properly, and it can alter vision.

In the past, the only treatment for Keratoconus sufferers was a painful and invasive corneal transplant, but over the last decade new technology has provided improved treatment options. If you have cataracts and Keratoconus, it is important to get the best care possible in order to protect your vision. Treatment options include:

  • Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) – IOLs substitute the eye’s natural lenses that are detached during cataract surgery.
  • Toric IOLs – For cataract patients with astigmatism, Toric IOLs have the potential to improve visual perception like never before.
  • Monofocal IOLs – Monofocal IOLs may have costs partially covered by insurance, and they help vision at night or in low-light settings.
  • Holcomb C3-R® Treatment – By applying a vitamin-rich solution and exposing the eyes to UV light, the cornea can be strengthened to stop the progression of Keratoconus.

Learn more about getting treatment for Keratoconus so you can improve your vision today.

CATARACT TREATMENT WHEN YOU HAVE KERATOCONUS

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Finding Relief with LipiFlow®

Dealing with Keratoconus is difficult enough, but dry eyes and Keratoconus is a double trouble. For those who have been struggling with chronic dry eyes, LipiFlow® maybe the answer. Most patients have tried the over the counter “Get the Red Out” drops or artificial tears, and while they do relieve the irritation and symptoms of Dry Eye it is usually just a temporary fix. LipiFlow® allows you to have more permanent relief from your Dry Eye condition. Most patients experience relief after the treatment within a week.

The Procedure

The LipiFlow® treatment takes less than 15 minutes and can be performed in the doctor’s office. Disposable activators are placed on the eye lids to warm and gently massage the Meibomian glands on the eyelids. This loosens and releases oils that were clogging the glands, allowing fresh, clean oils to be excreted in the tear layers and protect the eyes.

There are between 30-40 meibum glands located within the eyelids that release certain amounts of oil into the tear fluid to help lubricate the eyes and stop the tears from evaporating. Sometimes these glands get clogged causing Dry Eye. The purpose of the LipiFlow® treatment is to loosen the blockage in the glands and allow them to release the natural flow of oil again.

Determining if you are a Good Candidate for LipiFlow®

The doctor will look for a few things before determining if you’re a good candidate for the treatment. They will look at your medical history, how long you have experienced chronic Dry Eye, how severe your dry eyes have been, and how the dry eye affected your daily activities. They will also have to determine what type you have before suggesting this treatment.They will also check the number of meibum glands are affected or clogged in the eyelids. Before determining if you are a good candidate all these factors must be taken into account. Over 65% of patients with dry eyes simply lack the proper level of oils within their tear fluid.

Benefits of LipiFlow®

Those with chronic Dry Eye understand the benefits of even the slightest relief from chronic dry eyes. Those who have explored most treatments for Dry Eye who still have little relief would most likely benefit from the LipiFlow® treatment. Below are a few additional benefits to consider.

Benefits:

• Little to no pain or discomfort
• Noninvasive procedure
• Quick procedure with quick results
• Unclogs the glands for more natural flow of lipid
• Can drive self to and from appointment – no need for a driver!

Dorys didn’t know what the cause of her excessive tearing was, and it ended up being Dry Eye!
Watch Dorys explain about her story, and how she finally got relief :