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
If you have recently been diagnosed with keratoconus, Brian Boxer Wachler, MD — known by patients and doctors as “The Keratoconus Guru” — urges you to quickly find and establish care with a reputable provider. Time is of the essence when seeking treatment for keratoconus, which is a progressive and unpredictable disease. There is no way to know how quickly and severely it will worsen, or to predict the effects on your vision. Keratoconus “has a mind of its own.” But make no mistake: it will NOT stop and go away on its own. Read more
In the past two decades, millions of Americans have sought LASIK to reshape their corneas and correct common refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Countless more have considered having the surgery but have held off to see if it becomes even safer and more effective over time. If you have been holding out for the best and most advanced LASIK procedure available, look no further than Fortified LASIK, performed exclusively by renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler. Read more
Hormone fluctuations in the body are linked to the progression of this eye condition: that is why so many keratoconus patients start to see their symptoms develop during puberty. For that reason, it is understandable that some women are concerned about the potential impact pregnancy may have for causing or restarting keratoconus.
Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, an ophthalmologist known worldwide for his keratoconus expertise, shares what the latest research says about this subject so that women who are pregnant or intending to become pregnant one day can make informed decisions about their health. Read more
In addition to being a world-renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler has an exciting new credential for his extensive résumé: filmmaker. He is a producer on Holky: The Steven Holcomb Story, a moving documentary detailing the successes and struggles of Steven Holcomb, a decorated Olympic bobsledder. This half-hour film has been well received by critics and audiences, and recently won Best Documentary at the London International Film Festival.
See the trailer here! Read more
Keratoconus affects about 1 in every 400 Americans. Although researchers continue to study keratoconus, they still have not pinpointed a definitive cause for the eye condition. However, researchers have identified multiple risk factors that may indicate that you are more like to develop keratoconus. Renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler shares some of those risk factors here: Read more
Being a teenager can be challenging enough on its own, so finding out that you have keratoconus while you are still in high school only adds to your stress. Roughly 1 in 400 people are affected by keratoconus, with most of these patients developing the symptoms during their teenage years. In other words: you are not alone.
Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler is an internationally recognized ophthalmologist who specializes in the treatment of keratoconus. He has found amazing success treating teenage patients, helping them to avoid serious vision loss and lead normal lives. Read more
Known as “The Keratoconus Guru,” Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler is the author of three books about keratoconus. Throughout his career, he has pioneered advancements in the field of ophthalmology to better treat his patients diagnosed with this debilitating condition. In this blog, he explains how two of the best procedures — Intacs and corneal cross-linking — can help people with keratoconus to lead much better lives. Read more
Implantable contact lenses (Visian ICLs) are artificial lenses that are placed in front of the natural lenses to correct vision. They function like normal contact lenses but are secured inside the eye. To help you understand whether you may be a good candidate for the procedure, Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler shares some of the main factors involved in making this determination. Read more
Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler is one of the world’s foremost keratoconus specialists. With his proprietary non-invasive Holcomb C3-R® corneal cross-linking technique, he has found long-term success at not only halting keratoconus in its tracks, but also reversing the effects in many patients with Intacs and CK. Here, he shares facts about the treatment that may surprise his patients. Read more
