Common Misconceptions about Keratoconus

Keratoconus treatment in Beverly Hills

Keratoconus is a disorder that causes the cornea to bulge out into a cone-like shape and leads to blurry, distorted vision. Although the affliction occurs often enough to keep Dr. Brian busy with keratoconus patients, it is still rare enough that the general population does not have a firm understanding of what keratoconus is.

Allow Dr. Brian to correct some of the misinformation about this condition:

Misconception: You Are Not Old Enough to Have Keratoconus

Because so many eye disorders tend to manifest in older age, people commonly assume they are safe from a condition like keratoconus until they hit at least middle age.

On the contrary, most people with keratoconus will start to detect symptoms in their teenage years, and then notice those symptoms worsening throughout their 20s and 30s. If you feel that something may be wrong with your eyes, come in for an appointment as soon as possible because your age does not make you “immune.”

Misconception: You Can Prevent Keratoconus

The cause of keratoconus is reduced anti-oxidant enzymes in your cornea. There is strong indication that keratoconus is genetic — 10 percent of people with keratoconus have a parent with the same disorder. People with certain conditions like Down syndrome, retinitis pigmentosa and sleep apnea are at an increased risk for keratoconus as well.

Experts have also noticed a link between keratoconus and excessive eye rubbing. Since you should avoid unnecessarily touching your eyes for a myriad of reasons, not rubbing your eyes is advice worth taking regardless of whether it helps prevent keratoconus.

Misconception: Normal Eyewear Prescriptions Cannot Help with Keratoconus

Really, it depends on the stage of keratoconus. Early on, glasses and contact lenses can do a great job of correcting vision problems like astigmatism caused by keratoconus. Over time, though, it is likely that your eyes will require more serious intervention to keep you seeing properly. In fact, some patients find they can no longer wear normal contacts because of their corneal bulge.

Misconception: You Just Have to Learn to Live with Keratoconus

You do not have to put up with subpar vision! Dr. Brian has worked extensively with keratoconus patients to improve the quality of their eyesight, and in turn, their lives. He offers several keratoconus treatments, from Holcomb C3-R Cross-Linking to strengthen the structure of the cornea in an effort to avoid transplants to Intacs inserts that help reshape the bulging cornea for improved vision.

To discuss the full range of options with one of the foremost experts on keratoconus, contact the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute to schedule a consultation with Dr. Brian.

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.

Vision Correction in Los Angeles