Year: 2014

Those battling eyesight issues, especially people with kerataconus, know how aggravating it can be to go back and forth from one doctors appointment to another. Prescription contacts, glasses or eye surgery without results can make it seem like relief is too far away. However, Insertable Contact Lenses (ICL) can help improve your vision without the hassle of traditional lenses.

ICL treatment is a new breakthrough in the field of enhanced vision care and consists of lenses that are inserted into your eye through a small opening. The lens, which is made out of copolymer and collagen, then unfolds in your eye and is positioned behind the iris and in front of your natural lens.
The entire process is completed as an outpatient procedure in about 10 to 15 minutes. Benefits to inserting an ICL for keratoconus include:

• Same day improvement in vision
• Should vision change in the future, the lens can be exchanged
• Once in place, you cannot feel the ICL
• Material won’t degrade
• Ideal for those that suffer from dry eyes

The collamer material that makes up the ICL is highly biocompatible, allowing the lens to rest in position in order to correct vision. Additionally, the ICL contains an ultraviolet filter that protects your eye. Once the procedure is complete, the ICL will remain in your eye without needing to be maintained aside from an annual visit to your eye doctor to check for changes in your vision. Talking to your eye doctor during your next visit will allow you to learn about ICL treatment so you can see how it can improve your vision and correct keratoconus.

For those who are familiar with Keratoconus, Corneal Transplants maybe a familiar treatment option. But with today’s advanced technology, there are several treatments yielding amazing results when it comes to the treatment of Keratoconus. For generations past, the only treatment of Keratoconus was a corneal transplant. But the success of alternative treatments has made corneal transplants an option in less than 5% of patients with Keratoconus in fact they are almost obsolete.

Other treatments such as the Holcomb C3-R®, INTACS®, Hybrid Lenses, and even PRK have yielded excellent results. These treatments have aided in slowing, reversing, and in some cases stopping the progression of Keratoconus. For many, visual freedom and overall improved quality of vision is within reach.

Some of you may be wondering what Keratoconus is and what are the signs. For those of you who are new to this condition or even have family members who are newly diagnosed with Keratoconus, it is a progressive eye condition which causes the cornea to extend into a cone-shape causing distortions in the patients vision over time.

The lens slowly bulges outward causing blurred or double vision, decreased night vision, difficulty reading, and several other symptoms. The condition can be hereditary, caused by frequent rubbing, or injury to the eye. Over time the patient can have a severe decrease in vision, causing problems with daily activities, driving, or night vision.

Treatments:

Holcomb C3-R® Corneal Crosslinking System

Also known as Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin, Holcomb C3-R® is a treatment that strengthens the corneal fibers over time, fixing the damage or bulge to the cornea. This can improve the vision slightly over 4-16 weeks, but most importantly it will stop the disease from progressing. The treatment is non-invasive and uses a natural vitamin called Riboflavin along with a UV light to activate it. The treatment takes 30 minutes and continues to work to improve your sight for weeks after it’s complete.

INTACS®:

INTACS® are tiny segments that are placed in your cornea to provide support and add shape to your cornea. INTACS® can be added in combination with the Holcomb C3-R® and take less than an hour for both eyes to be done. There is less recovery time and less pain involved with the procedure than a corneal transplant. The procedure for INTACS® is minimally invasive and requires very little recovery. INTACS® also can be removed relatively easily if technology changes or you need them removed for some reason in the future.

13yr old Brianna had her Keratoconus treated with these advanced treatments, watch her story here: http://youtu.be/KZFC8NOp_hI

Not only is Baseball America’s pastime, but it is a large cause of eye injury during the summer season. Over 90% of eye related injuries can be prevented; many times with simple safety measures. If you are active in sports, especially in Baseball, your vision is needed often to measure your swing or even pitch the ball. The longer players play baseball, the more chance of damage to the eye. It is very important to keep your vision in excellent shape when it comes to playing sports.

Most victims of eye related conditions are between 15-25 years of age, often in an athlete’s prime years. As a player, it is important to have yourself checked annually for eye damage or progressive eye conditions. As a coach, it is equally important to ensure your players are getting their checkups. Near and far vision is required to properly play the game. Below are some of the most common sports related eye injuries:

• Detached Retina’s

• Corneal Lacerations

• Hemorrhages

• Loss of eye

Most of these injuries are due to direct ocular contact with the ball. While baseball is the sport we love, we must protect ourselves at all times. Several athletes have neglected their vision and have waited to get their checkups until their vision was so bad that they could barely make it through the day. St. Louis Cardinals’ Aaron Luna recently had vision correction surgery to improve his vision. The Visian ICL, which is a tiny implantable contact lens, is placed in the eye to improve your natural lens vision. With the Visian ICL, you can experience life without contact lenses or glasses in most cases.

Aaron remembers what it was like before the Visian ICL and now is grateful he had the procedure done. The Visian ICL takes only about 20 minutes per eye and the recovery time is generally around a week. You should ask your eye care professional about the Visian ICL – it could benefit you in your next Baseball season!

The Visian ICL has been gaining popularity for individuals with Keratoconus. Keratoconus can lead to high levels of myopia (nearsightedness). The Visian ICL as a Keratoconus treatment can help reduce the high levels of myopia, so patients with Keratoconus might be able to wear glasses or less powerful contacts. In some cases, Keratoconus patients might be able to reduce their need for contacts or glasses after Visian ICL.

For more information on the Visian ICL visit: www.visianinfo.com

12 year old, Nicey, had her life changed by Visian ICl for Keratoconus, watch her story here: http://youtu.be/j4BNj6pnzvU

Dry Eye is a common condition. Often Dry Eye gets worse during the summer months. If you have struggled with Dry Eye and it seems you are getting little relief, LipiFlow® may be able to help. Lipiflow® is a 10-minute treatment that cleans out the glands that are blocked by dust and debris.

Those who are active during the summer, have a job that requires hours on the computer, or even those who work around flying dust or debris have difficulty with Dry Eye. It can cause pain and irritation, reducing your quality of vision and interrupting your daily activities. Below are a few signs of Dry Eye:

• Itchiness

• Redness

• Blurred vision

• Discomfort

• Gritty sensations

• Scratchy eyes
• Sensitivity to light

Overall Benefits of LipiFlow®:

There are several benefits to getting the LipiFlow® treatment. For those who have been suffering for several years, you can have significant improvement within 4 weeks. LipiFlow® allows the glands to be cleaned and increase the patient’s natural lipid production. This gradually helps with relief from your symptoms and can allow for a better quality of vision overall. If you have been dealing with Dry Eye without relief for a long period of time, you understand the need for treatment to help the underlying problem. LipiFlow® goes right to the gland that is blocked allowing true relief.

Some of the overall benefits of using the LipiFlow® treatment are:

• Improved quality of vision

• Improved lipid production

• Less irritation during work or personal activities

• little to no pain

• 86% improvement rate

Current over the counter artificial tears, “Get the red out” eye drops, and other treatments will only provide you with temporary relief. After a while these products may not work the same. LipiFlow® can be a true treatment for your Dry Eye symptoms. Getting a checkup annually and asking your eye care professionals about LipiFlow® can give you a better idea if it may be right for you. Get relief for your chronic Dry Eye and improve your quality of vision with LipiFlow®.

To hear Barbara’s first-hand results, click the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbx-CXBuZTY

The disease Keratoconus is a progressive condition that causes the patients quality of vision to decrease gradually over time. In the past there was only one main treatment for Keratoconus other than eye glasses or contact lenses, which was corneal transplants. Over the past decade or longer, technology has improved the treatments for Keratoconus including treatments like INTACS®, Holcomb C3-R®, and even CK.

These treatments alone or combined can improve the patients overall vision, and in almost all cases they have been known to stop the progression of Keratoconus.

Holcomb C3-R® Crosslinking System:

The Holcomb C3-R® is a treatment which is making incredible progress in the treatments for patients with Keratoconus. Keratoconus is a progressive condition that damages the cornea or the lens of the eye causing it to go from a dome shape to cone shape distorting the vision. The Holcomb C3-R® strengthens the corneal fibers allowing the cornea to return to its original shape over time and stopping the progression of the disease.

INTACS® are also a great treatment to help those with Keratoconus. There are many that also have the ability to combine both the Holcomb C3-R® with INTACS® to provide them with a better quality of vision and in some cases remove the need for glasses or contacts. INTACS® are tiny inserts that are placed within the cornea to help shape and provide support to your vision.

INTACS® Benefits:

Less-invasive procedure
Takes less than an hour
An outpatient procedure
Can be used in combination with other procedures
Less maintenance, can be easily removed if necessary

Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, MD is a renowned eye surgeon specializing in Keratoconus treatments, and other procedures.

Here numerous stories of patients whose lives were changed by having their Keratoconus fixed by Dr. Brian: http://tiny.cc/m7h0ix

There has been great strides of progress when it comes to Keratoconus and over the last decade we have found several new treatments to improve your overall quality of vision. Although Keratoconus is a progressive disease there are several treatments that can improve your vision and in some cases reverse the damage already done by the disease. There are screenings that help predict Keratoconus at an early stage.

Yearly screenings are important. They can help your eye care professional spot early signs of Keratoconus. If you have a family history of the disease you should inform the doctor right away. This will help them detect the disease in its earliest stage. There are several treatments available to assist you with your Keratoconus and improve your disease allowing you to be free of glasses and contact lenses in some cases. Below are some early warning signs of Keratoconus and New treatments for those with the disease.

Keratoconus Symptoms:

• Blurred vision

• Frequent Prescription changes

• Halos

• Difficulty with night vision

• Excessive rubbing of the eyes

• Double Vision

• Headaches

Treatments for Keratoconus:

• Glasses, contact lenses – Changing prescriptions

• IOL’s or Intra Ocular Lenses

• CK

• Holcomb C3-R ®

• INTACS for Keratoconus

So if your question is, can Keratoconus be cured? No, but it can be treated. You can improve your overall quality of vision. And the earlier it is caught the better your vision can get. Some of the treatments in some cases have reversed the damage done by Keratoconus, but in most cases you can still get your vision back. So stop paying attention to all the blogs, magazines, articles, and general doctors, and consult an expert. Dr. Boxer Wachler, MD is a renowned eye surgeon specializing in Keratoconus treatments, LASIK, I-BRITE eye whitening, and other procedures.

Patient Pioneer – Dr. Brian’s Very First Intacs^® for Keratoconus Patient 20 years ago

If you are living with keratoconus, a progressive non-inflammatory eye disorder that causes a cone-like steepening of the cornea, you know how important it is to get treatment so that you can get back to your normal routine. Keratoconus damages your vision and makes it impossible to focus without the assistance of eyeglasses or contacts. Luckily, there is a treatment option that is non-invasive and helps address the issue.

Holcomb C3-R® treatment is the first non-invasive corneal crosslinking procedure for keratoconus and works by numbing the area before applying a solution that contains riboflavin and other compounds to your cornea. Once activated by a special UVA light it helps stabilize weakened links in the cornea collagen fiber, which allows most patients to see results in one treatment.

The benefits include being able to return to work the next day thanks to faster recovery time and no need for steroid eye drops after the procedure. In comparison, CXL treatment can take up to three months to heal and patients usually miss one to two weeks of work due to discomfort and pain. With the CXL treatment you also will have to wait 3 months to resume wearing contacts and have 2-13 weeks of steroid eye drop use until the outer layer of the cornea can heal. Corneal transplant has even more of an impact on your recovery, with an invasive and painful procedure that can take up to six months or a year for you to heal and wear contacts as normal.

With Holcomb C3-R® treatment, there is virtually no risk of complication. However, some patients report mild irritation in their eyes for a few days while most do not. You may experience haziness in vision for the remainder of the day following the procedure, but you can resume wearing contacts the next day. In the end, it is an excellent option for those with keratoconus to help improve eye strength moving forward.

A diagnosis of Keratoconus can be frightening. If you have family history of Keratoconus you may have already experienced seeing someone with the disease. However today technology has allowed for several new treatments that can slow the progression of Keratoconus or even in some cases stop the it’s progression.

In the past most treatments for Keratoconus ended up with a Corneal Transplant. But within the last decade many other treatments have allowed for faster recovery times, non-invasive procedures, and even improvements over time. Now with the design of hybrid contact lenses, scleral contacts, and even the Holcomb C3-R ® patients have non-invasive options for improving their vision.

Today’s Treatment Options

The use of eye glasses: The use of eye glasses has been a treatment option for those with Keratoconus and many other condition for years. This treatment is generally used in the very early stages of Keratoconus. When patients are treated during early diagnosis with Holcomb C3-R® they have a higher probability to be able to use glasses long term. Holcomb C3-R® stabilizes the progression of Keratoconus and helps preserve a patient’s current vision.

Contact Lenses:

Another traditional treatment for more advanced Keratoconus are RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable lenses) or Scleral Contact Lens. One type of RGP lens is the Rose-K lens, which can offer crisp and sharp vision for those with Keratoconus. There are some brands of soft contact lenses that are designed for patients with Keratoconus, these include KeraSoft Lenses and NovaKone Lenses. In addition to the soft contact lens there is a combination lens or Hybrid lenses like ClearKone ®, which have a hard center and a soft skirt. Discuss with your Keratoconus contact lens fitter the best option to improve the clarity of your vision and improve your day-to-day visual experience.

The Holcomb C3-R ® or Corneal Cross-linking With Riboflavin: This revolutionary treatment developed in 2003 by Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler is used to preserve the vision of those suffering with Keratoconus by using a more natural approach. A Vitamin rich solution is administered to the eyes and then activated with a special UV light. This procedure helps to strengthen the cornea and stop the progression vision loss from Keratoconus. This procedure helps to preserve a patient’s current vision. When combined with other procedures, such as INTACS, overall vision can be improved.

Ian discusses how revolutionary Keratoconus treatments have improved his life and vision, watch his story here: http://youtu.be/Tr2DeAQA-DI

To learn more about new treatments for Keratoconus you can visit www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/keratoconus.htm

People with allergies know that it can sometimes be difficult to even step outside of your front door. Dry conditions and irritants in the environment can lead you itchy and burning eyes that make you want to find relief as quickly as possible. Dry eye is not limited to just people with allergies, however. The condition can be a result of a number of different factors, which is why it is important to recognize the symptoms and causes so you can talk with your doctor about getting the treatment you need.

Dry eye occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly or when the tears are not the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly. Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye are the two types of the condition that affect about 12 million Americans. It can occur in women who are pregnant or as a side effect of some medications such as antihistamines, nasal decongestants and certain blood pressure medication. The most common cause of Dry Eye Syndrome is a condition known as Blepharitis, which is present in nine out of 10 cases.

Symptoms of dry eye include irritation, dryness and redness and vision disturbance. You may find that your eyes tear up more than usual and are sensitive to light. Instances of excessive tears may be followed by long dry spells, and dryness can lead to patchy loss of cells in your cornea. If you use soft contact lenses and experience dry eye, talk with your eye doctor about using a different type of lens and getting a solution that can clean out your glands causing the problem.

When it comes to Keratoconus there are many questions about family history. The truth is you should always let your physician or eye care professional know when there is a history of medical conditions in the family. This can help them better assess your conditions. In fact many conditions are diagnosed with the help of family histories.

In past years there was little in the way of treatments when it came to Keratoconus. Many patients had to receive corneal transplants to relieve the Keratoconus. But now there are several new treatments which are very effective in slowing progression, reversing damage, and strengthening the cornea. This gives Keratoconus patients a much better prognosis in there Keratoconus treatment.

For those with a family history of Keratoconus having a family history only makes you at higher risk of getting the condition it’s not a guarantee. There are several steps to diagnosing Keratoconus but it can help the doctor determine your risk.

Below are some tips to help you find out more about Keratoconus:

Research- Research is a big part of being pro-active in your own health. Finding the right doctor, educating yourself on the conditions, and arming yourself with information will help you ensure that you get the right health care.

Finding the Right Doctor-It is important that you are comfortable with the doctor your choose whether it is an eye doctor, or general health care provider building trust and being able to ask them questions will help them and you in your treatment plans.

Be honest with them- No matter how small you think the change is be sure to tell them everything. Leaving things out can hinder your own treatment or diagnosis. Telling them when you have changes or even logging your symptoms will help them greatly in determining what it going on with your body.

Below are Signs of Keratoconus:

• Frequent Eye Rubbing

• Frequent Changes in prescriptions

• Blurred or double vision

• Halos or glares around lights

• Sensitivity to light

• Poor night vision

• Dry eyes
• Squinting or Straining Your Eyes

In traditional treatments glasses, contact lenses like RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable lenses) were used before the eventual corneal transplant. Now with today’s technology we are now rarely using the corneal transplants and treatments are more effective than ever before. Treatments like the Holcomb C3-R® procedure stop this progressive debilitating eye disease. When combined with Holcomb C3-R is combined with INTACS in addition to being effective in slowing/stopping the progression and/or reversing the progression of Keratoconus.

The overall outlook of Keratoconus treatment is a great one and with continued research and improvements to Keratoconus treatments we have less pain, and more improvement in your quality of vision.

Watch how Brianna’s life was changed by these advanced Keratoconus treatments: http://youtu.be/KZFC8NOp_hI

For more information on risk factors of Keratoconus visit www.nkcf.org/about-Keratoconus