Tag: Keratoconus treatment options

Experiencing Disturbances in Night Vision With Keratoconus

January 15, 2013

cmg-wd

Keratoconus

Keratocons , Keratoconus Inserts , Keratoconus Management , Keratoconus Risk Factors , Keratoconus symptoms , Keratoconus treatment options

If your experiencing disturbances in your vision during the day since your diagnosis of Keratoconus, we can only imagine how your night vision is doing. Unfortunately loss of night vision is a symptom of Keratoconus, having it and dealing with it however are two very different things.

Since 1999 there has been new advances in assistance those with Keratoconus. In the past, patients merely waited for the Keratoconus to get too bad for contacts or glasses. A painful and invasive procedure called a Corneal Transplant, was the only option until INTACS for Keratoconus was developed in 1999 and Holcomb C3-R ® (cornea collagen crosslinking) was developed in 2003.

Modern medicine and several innovative procedures have helped those who suffer from Keratoconus improve their chances of not having a corneal transplant to help deal with their worsening symptoms.

Below are some tips to assist you with your night vision:

Drive in well lite areas at all times: As your vision goes it will be harder to see, you may not know that your vision is getting worse right away so driving in well lite areas (good street lights) regularly will help if you are struggling.

Drive with a buddy: If you are not very certain on how your vision has been effected at night, take a buddy with you. Someone you trust can help you and work with you in deciding if you should be on the road at night, or tell you what problems you maybe experiencing while driving.

Ask you doctor: as your Keratoconus progresses asking your doctor if it is safe for you to be on the road should be a typical exam question. This will help you determine where you are in your condition and if you need assistance with your night driving.

Finding out the degree of vision loss when you have Keratoconus is important. Asking your doctor these important questions will help you determine whether its safe for you to drive could save your life and the lives of others. The frustration of coping with Keratoconus is hard on all who suffer, your not alone. Finding a Keratoconus support group can help you cope with your loss of vision, and improve the overall quality of your life.

For more information on Keratoconus support groups visit:www.AmKC.org or www.keratoconus-group.org.uk

For more information about keratoconus visit the American Keratoconus Association

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The Management of Keratoconus With Other Medical Conditions

January 1, 2013

cmg-wd

Keratoconus

Diabetes , Hypertension , Keratoconus , Keratoconus advice , Keratoconus Inserts , Keratoconus Risk Factors , Keratoconus treatment options , Keratoconus treatments

The management of Keratoconus can be a struggle. But facing Keratoconus with other conditions like: Diabetes, Cataracts, Hypertension, or even arthritis can be even more of a challenge. Having a treatment plan can help assist you in the day to day management of multiple conditions. While managing your Keratoconus you should already know about developing an effective treatment plan and how having a support team can help you face daily challenges.

Even the support of your family or your team of doctors can allow you to problem solve when it comes to management. Below are some things you can do to help manage your conditions.

Diabetes & Keratoconus:

Diabetes effects the blood sugar levels, and as we all know the blood runs through the entire body including the eyes. While we don’t often think of the eyes becoming damaged from out of control blood sugar levels, it can happen quickly and even cause blindness within 6 months to a year. So how do you manage these medical conditions?

Log your blood sugar readings regularly. This will help you keep an eye on your levels, give you better control,and reduce the amount of complications caused by uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
Exercising daily can help keep your blood sugar levels down. Also joining in racket and team sports can help with tracking, eye response, eye muscle control, and other things to improve your Keratoconus.
Getting regular exams. Get regular eye exams, as well as diabetic tests like, A1C, and Kidney function tests. This can prevent unexpected complications for both your Diabetes and Keratoconus.

Hypertension & Keratoconus Management:

Hypertension or high blood pressure is caused by an increase in the amount of pressure your blood puts on your vessels and arteries as it flows throughout your body. Since your blood flows through all areas of the body hypertension can effect your eyes as well. In routine examinations the eye care professionals can see if any damage is caused to the vessels within your eyes and often diagnose hypertension in its early stages. If hypertension continues to go untreated it can cause additional problems with your eyes and quality of vision.

Below are some tips to help you control your hypertension:

Decreasing the amount of salt your body intakes.

Drinking more water daily

Implementing a small exercise regimen into your daily routine

Reducing your diet from a 2500 -2000 calorie diet to 1500

Getting Regular exams from your primary physician

For more information on how you can manage Keratoconus visit www.AMKC.org

For more information about keratoconus visit the American Keratoconus Association

Daily Life: Dealing With Headaches as a Symptom of Keratoconus

December 15, 2012

cmg-wd

Keratoconus

Keratoconus , Keratoconus advice , Keratoconus Inserts , Keratoconus Risk Factors , Keratoconus symptoms , Keratoconus treatment options , Keratoconus treatments

There are many symptoms of Keratoconus. Managing the symptoms can be just as hard as dealing with the complications of the disease itself. One of the harder and more progressive symptoms of Keratoconus is headaches. While proper management of headaches can help you over the course of time, finding a way to cope with them can be even more challenging.

There are many reasons you may be having increased headaches including:

Sensitivity to Light
Eye Strain- as your vision decreases
Dry eyes
Decreased Night Vision

The increase of headaches can affect your daily activities. This can hinder you in the present as well as the future as the condition progresses. Finding an effective way to improve your symptoms can help you in the long run.

Coping With Headaches:

Many of us experience headaches regularly. For those who have a tendency to get migraines, or sinus headaches dealing with the pain is one of the first things we think about, however preventative measures are more effective.

Below are some preventative strategies that may help you manage your headaches as your Keratoconus progresses.

The use of UV protected eye wear:

Wearing sunglasses in the summer seems normal, but the effectiveness of wearing UV sunglasses throughout the year is great. They not only protect your eyes from further damage from the sun but also shields your light sensitive eyes as your Keratoconus progresses. They also keep you from straining in the light throughout the day.

Eye drops & Other Over the Counter Remedies:

Some relief can be found in artificial tears, and over the counter eye drops, however these are merely temporary relief and unless used daily they don’t offer you effective preventative remedies. Many people get headaches from straining of the eyes, or dry eyes and getting to the core of the cause of your headaches can give you more benefit that merely covering it up.

Relaxation & Meditation as a Preventative Measure:

Stress is a big trigger for many types of headaches. Many people with progressive conditions such as Keratoconus have a hard time coping with things changing in their lives and feel the stress. Learning to use some relaxation techniques such as palming can help you cope with your daily challenges in turn preventing future headaches one day at a time.

Palming:

Palming can assist you in relaxation throughout the day, relieving stress and preventing your headaches. Palming is a relaxation tool used at various intervals throughout the day. When you are in a quite private location, simply lay flat on the floor and place the palms of your hands across your eyes. Do this for intervals of 10-15 minutes throughout the day.

Eye Strain:

One of the most common of headaches is eye strain, often a result of changing prescription. This is the frustration facing those with Keratoconus, constant changing prescription. The most improtant remedy is Homcomb C3-R ® (cornea collage crosslinking). The Holcomb C3-R ® procedure helps stabilize the cornea and stop the ever changing glasses prescription.

You can learn more about Keratocons treatments here: http://www.AMKCA.org

Other information about eye strain can be found here http://www.medicinenet.com/eye_strain/article.htm

For more information about keratoconus visit the American Keratoconus Association