Family History of Keratoconus? What You Can Do

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.

Share Your Family History with Your Ophthalmologist

It is critical to share your family history of keratoconus (and any other eye diseases) with your eye doctor. Although your doctor cannot prevent you from getting keratoconus, he or she will be diligent about looking for problems in their early stages, before they become very serious. Catching keratoconus early and responding appropriately will greatly reduce your risk of losing sight and experiencing other complications.

Don’t Skip or Postpone Eye Exams

Everyone should see an eye doctor routinely for comprehensive eye exams. But life can get hectic, and it may be tempting to skip or postpone exams, especially if you are not experiencing noticeable vision changes. Do your best to attend all of your eye appointments at the recommended intervals. These appointments are opportunities for your eye doctor to establish a baseline for your eyes and monitor any small changes or abnormalities before they progress to something more serious.

Be Aware of the Symptoms of Keratoconus

Familiarize yourself with the common warning signs of keratoconus. These include the following:

  • Blurry vision
  • Double vision
  • Frequent changes to glasses or contacts prescription
  • Poor night vision
  • Frequent squinting or straining your eyes

If you experience any of these symptoms, or if something else starts to feel “off” with your vision, promptly contact your eye doctor and request an appointment.

Prioritize a Healthy Lifestyle

Undergoing regular eye exams is the best thing to do for your eye health. Eating a healthy diet, being physically active, not smoking and wearing UV eye protection are also important ways to reduce the risk of developing an eye disease.

Dr. Brian is committed to working with patients to protect their ocular health and enjoy clear vision as long as possible. For more information about the diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus, please contact Boxer Wachler Vision Institute today.

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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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