Month: September 2022

Family History of Keratoconus? What You Can Do

Dr. Brian 0 Comment Blog, Keratoconus
Family History of Keratoconus

Researching our ancestors has become a popular pastime, especially with the advent of services such as 23andMe and Ancestry.com. But familiarizing yourself with your family tree is not just a fun hobby – it can uncover information that is valuable to your ocular health.

Some eye diseases, including the corneal condition keratoconus, have a genetic component. Not all cases of keratoconus are inherited but having a family history of keratoconus increases the risk of getting it. If one of your close family members has keratoconus, you are more likely to get it than someone without a family history.

Here, Brian Boxer Wachler, MD, of Boxer Wachler Vision Institute recommends steps to take if you uncover a family history of keratoconus. Read more

A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT DR. BRIAN

Throughout his highly respected career, cornea specialist Dr. Brian has never wavered with his integrity and dedication to always do the best for each and every patient - even in the face of adversity and peer pressure. Case in point: when he developed a procedure to treat a cornea condition known as Keratoconus. While other eye surgeons were entrenched in performing invasive and painful cornea transplants, Dr. Brian invented a new non-invasive procedure that prevented needing cornea transplants. He was shocked by the medical establishment being unwelcoming to his innovation because, as he later found out, his new procedure was preventing other eye surgeons from performing their lucrative cornea transplants. Dr. Brian persisted, went against the grain and didn’t give up because he believed in himself and in his procedure as it was in the best interest of patients. Eventually, he crossed paths with U.S. Olympic bobsled driver Steven Holcomb who had Keratoconus and became so depressed over it that he tried to commit suicide. Luckily, he survived. The United States Olympic team and his coaches found Dr. Brian and sent Steven to see him. Dr. Brian restored his vision to 20/20 which enabled Steven later win a historic Olympic gold medal for United States in bobsled - the first in 62 years! As a result, Dr. Brian was later invited to give a prestigious TEDx talk about his integrity and dedication to patients. You can watch his moving and inspiring TEDx talk here.

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