It is never too soon to take steps to protect your vision. Ensuring we have good vision care should be a high priority in your families health care. Establishing a good vision specialist will protect your eyes in the future. Many of us take for granted our vision care despite the fact that we only have one pair.

Here are 4 things your family can do to ensure good vision:

Choose a good vision clinic:

Ensure that your eye clinic has good customer service and is not too busy to give you an appointment in a reasonable time. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the staff when looking. Note how helpful the staff are and whether they answer your questions without hesitation.

Choose an compatible doctor:

Make sure the doctor you choose for your family is one that is concerned with their patients, and has the time to see them. Many times the doctor is good but very busy and doesn’t have sufficient time to dedicate to you and your family. You want to choose a doctor that has time for you! Ask questions to the patients as well. Some doctors have testimonials on their websites; feel free to research them as well. Be serious about your vision care.

Get regular checkups:

Make sure your family is being seen every two years. If you have risk factors for eye conditions like Diabetes you should be seen every year. If you have trouble remembering your appointments put it on your calendar. Ensuring your families eyes are checked regularly could save them hassles or catch conditions early on.

Educate yourself:

Don’t be afraid to do the research and take some initiative in your vision care. Write down any questions you have for your eye doctor and address them at your next appointment. If you don’t understand the answers they are giving you ask them until you do. This is your vision, and your care.

Remember:

                                                    “You are your best advocate”

For more information on Keratoconus visit: http://www.keratoconusinserts.com

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INTACS are tiny inserts placed in the cornea to improve your natural corneal curves. The treatment of INTACS was to treat mild nearsightedness. However the results have shown improvement in patients with Keratoconus. The INTACS reshape the damaged irregular shape of the patient’s cornea providing them with more stability, and clearer vision.

INTACS has also been combined with C3-R® aka Corneal Collagen Cross-linking with Riboflavin to strengthen the cornea over time repair the damage Keratoconus has done to the patient’s vision. The INTACS & C3-R® can be performed many times within the same day, give the patient little if any pain and minimal recovery time.

This new Technology offers a great treatment plan for patients suffering from Keratoconus. In the past treatments only consisted of hard contact lens, and corneal transplants. Understanding that there are new and more improved treatments that can help is the first step to recovery.

Below are some Benefits of INTACS:

10 minute procedure

Procedure is preformed in the doctors office

Less invasive

Minimal recovery time

Less pain than most invasive procedures

Each year technology is improving the way we see. It is improving our procedures and giving us second chances for quality vision. The use of INTACS and C3-R® is an exceptional option for many patients with Keratoconus. It could be right for you.

For more information on the INTACS procedure or C3-R® visit: http://www.keratoconusinserts.com

or http://www.boxerwachler.com

Watch a free educational webinar: http://www.FixesYourKC.com

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Generally when we think of Keratoconus what comes to mind? Well if you already a Keratoconus patient you may think of things like blurred vision, or nearsightedness, astigmatism, or even sensitivity to light. The truth is these are often generalized symptoms and are also associated with other conditions, making it hard to diagnose as Keratoconus. So what questions should you be asking your doctor and does your current doctor specialize in treating patients with Keratoconus?

First the symptoms of Keratoconus:

High Astigmatism
Increased Astigmatism
Blurred Vision
Distorted night vision
Sensitivity to light
Blurred Vision

Blurred Vision and sensitivity to light are also found in patients with diabetes. Patients with Diabetes also have trouble with cataracts and astigmatism. However in recent studies researchers have found that patients with diabetes are at less risk of getting Keratoconus. Why? It has been found that patients with Type 2 Diabetes often develop harder corneas, in turn causing the exact opposite of the effects of Keratoconus. However few Diabetics are checked for Keratoconus because the symptoms they are experiencing are also symptoms caused by the damage of the sugar to the eye.

Blurred Vision and Pain in the eyes can also be caused by dry eye. Doctors find that patients who do excessive reading or writing blink less causing the eye to dry out more. The effects of dry eye while the condition can be well treated and is not life threatening can cause some damage to the cornea, creating double vision, distorted images, and can cause a lot of comfort.

The most important thing is to be sure to rule out risk factors for Keratoconus, find the right doctor, and ask questions. Below is a guide to assist you:

Risk Factors:

Family History
Trauma or injury to eyes
Constant rubbing of the eye
Inherited Diseases: Down Syndrome, Some Renial diseases

Questions to Ask the Doctor:

If you have a family history of Keratoconus you might ask:

What area do you specialize in?
How much experience do you have diagnosing and treating patients with Keratoconus?
What tests and treatments do you have available?

If you notice symptoms of Keratoconus you might ask:

Can you explain the results of my tests?
If your sight is getting worse you might ask- Do you know why my vision is getting worse?
What can I do to help improve my vision or will It continue to get worse?

Make sure to log your symptoms and how long they last. If you have a family history of eye disease or you are not sure if you have a family history of eye disease make sure the doctor is aware of this. Above all don’t be afraid to ask questions no matter how small they seem. If the doctor doesn’t have time to answer your questions so you understand him- find one that will. Your Vision care should be your concern.

To watch an educational webinar on Keratoconus Treatments visit: www.FixesYourKC.com

As Many of us know Keratoconus affects the lives of several thousand patients each year. Keratoconus affects the lives of the patients suffering and the family of each patient. Insurance companies recognize cornea transplant as a treatment for Keratoconus. Many surgeons have realized that treatments such as INTACS and C3R provide little to no risk for complications and fast recovery. While insurance companies have started to pay for INTACS, they continue to deny C3R, which holds little if any complication.

While many attempts have been made in the past to create better treatment many are now looking at the possibility of a cure for Progressive Keratoconus and Corneal Ectasia. According to the National Keratoconus Foundation [NKCF] two FDA studies were started in January of 2008 to study the effectiveness of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking on patients with Progressive Keratoconus and Corneal Ectasia. These studies were to begin with 160 patients with Progressive Keratoconus and 160 patients with Corneal Ectaisia. The patients would be studied for 3-6 months and than be followed for an additional 12 months there after. A formal study is the first step to gaining insurance approval for payment.

Quote:

“We are extremely excited to begin clinical trials on Cross Linking. It maybe a way to cure a disease that has no current  treatment and accounts for 15% of transplants preformed in the United States. “

Says:  Principal Investor-

While the study is winding down, and we should see the difference in the report. Many can already tell you of the benefits of Corneal Collagen Cross with Riboflavin. The results have been positive the little to no side effects or complications. Most who have use the treatment reported noticeable changes in at least 48 hours and the most substantial change within the last 2 weeks.

Progressive Keratoconus thins the corneal walls causing irregular changes in the shape of the cornea and distorts your vision. The C3R treatment stregthens the fibers of the Cornea walls restoring the natural shape. The treatment is non-invasive unlike the Cornea Transplant that were the primary treatment for Progressive Keratoconus. The treatment can be preformed in the doctors’ office within 30 minutes-the procedure is comfortable and even better no reduction in activity is necessary.

Progressive Keratoconus patients now have new hope. Many doctors are looking at this for a possible “cure” for these debilitating diseases. Early detection is the key to reduced complications. Below are a few symptoms of Progressive Keratoconus. If you have any of these symptoms consult your physician early.

Progressive Keratoconus Symptoms:

High Astigmatism

Increased Astigmatism

Headaches [Due to eye strain]

Disturbed night vision

Sensitivity to Light

Blurred Vision

To Watch a free educational video on treatments for Keratoconus visit: www.FixesYourKC.com

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This year in January Steve Holcomb had undergone a vision correction treatment that restored is vision. With his uncanny talent in bobsledding few knew of the troubles Steve suffered out there on the track. However his sight had become such a problem the extraordinarily talented athlete thought of throwing in the towel and retiring. In one last effort to help himself a few organizations pitched in an assisted the athlete in getting the experimental procedures done. His response to the procedures?

Quote from USA Today:

“I could instantly see clearly. It’s an amazing feeling”

- Says a pleased Steve Holcomb

Now with the 2010 Olympic Games coming up the athlete is back and stronger than ever. Holcomb entered the Bobsled World Championships on Friday in New York. His vision is almost perfect a far cry from his vision early last year at 20/1000 which for those of you that don’t know is quite poor -noted by doctors as profoundly poor in fact.

In further quotes Steve Holcomb states:

“Its life in high-definition”

His team was not aware of how bad Holcomb’s vision was until recently but says that he worked more off instinct than vision anyway. And Steve is more confident and amped about his vision than ever, no longer worrying about the constant hassle of his contacts and view life in a whole new way…as for the 2010 Olympics will just have to wait and see!

Read the USA Today Article:  http://www.boxerwachler.com/usatoday/index.htm

Watch a Free educational video on treatments for Keratoconus by visiting: www.FixesYourKC.com

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Genetics

The frequency of keratoconus in first degree relatives having the disease is much higher than the general population. Keratoconus can also be associated with other systemic syndromes such as Down’s syndrome.

The good news is that keratoconus is often not passed to children. If you have or may have children in the future, it’s only a 6% likelihood that any of your children will inherit keratoconus.

It makes sense to have your children have a baseline corneal topography between ages of 8-10 years old and have a topography every year. The subsequent topography maps can be compared to the first one to catch keratoconus early if it will be occurring. Early keratoconus can easily be “nipped in the bud” with a C3-R® treatment before it gets worse.

Quote:

“It seems that both environment and genetics play a role in Keratoconus”

-Says Dr. Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD.

Free Radicals

All corneas, like any tissues in the body, create harmful byproducts (free radicals) of cell metabolism (metabolism is a fancy word for the activities of the cell required for it to live and do it’s thing). These byproducts are similar to a car’s exhaust that results from the car being driven. Normal corneas, like any other body tissue, have a defense system in place to neutralize the free radicals so they don’t damage the collagen.

The collagen is the equivalent of steel beams that support a building. Damage to those beams causes the building to tilt, just like damage to the collagen causes the cornea to bulge. Think of those free radicals as attacking your collagen fibers in the cornea, trying to thin it and weaken it.

The problem with keratoconus is that anti-free radical system in the cornea (called anti-oxidants) are not properly working, so the free radicals are allowed to overwhelm and wreak havoc on the collagen fibers. They bombard the cornea like mortar fire blasting into a brick wall. The free radicals damage the cornea, thin it, and ultimately allow it to bulge and steepen out. This is how your vision got worse from keratoconus.

Watch a FREE educational webinar about treatments for keratoconus: www.FixesYourKC.com

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Olympic Bobsledder- Steven Holcomb has a lot to say about Dr. Boxer Wachler in this article from USA Today Written by Tim Reynolds…

———————————————————–

Olympic bobsledder Steven Holcomb was speeding down the icy track for a preseason training run a few weeks ago, when a piece of duct tape tore off the chassis and whizzed past his helmet. His teammates weren’t bothered. They’d seen it happen dozens of times. Holcomb, though, was spooked. Until then, he’d never seen that before.

In a sport that demands razor-sharp hand-eye coordination, Holcomb excels even with a degenerative eye disease called keratoconus that makes reading a challenge - say nothing for steering a bobsled in a snowstorm. “Sometimes, I really didn’t see all that much out there,” he said.

Given his success, that’s hard to believe. Holcomb is a national champion, a World Cup star and was the top American driver at the 2006 Turin Olympics. He navigates slippery tracks at 80 mph in a sport where tiny mistakes can lead to disaster. Yet he did all that with vision so blurry that he couldn’t read the big “E” atop an eye chart from more than 6 feet away. A $15,000 procedure may have saved Holcomb’s vision - plus could nudge him closer to Olympic gold in Vancouver in 2010.

“If he was in the top five in the world before, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s soon to be the top in the world,” said Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler of Beverly Hills, Calif., the corneal surgeon who developed the procedure that Holcomb underwent, Holcomb would love to see that.

Keratoconus causes the cornea to bulge outward, causing blurred vision. In some mild cases, glasses or contacts can be the answer. In Holcomb’s case, neither did the trick. Lasik didn’t work, either; Holcomb tried that in 2000, but was back in glasses within a year. So after last season, he decided he’d either find a solution or retire.

“They couldn’t make contacts strong enough for me anymore,” Holcomb said. “And since it’s a progressive disease, I had to get a new prescription, a stronger prescription, every three months. Finally they said, ‘You know, we can’t make them any stronger.’ So it was the end. For a while, I thought it was the end.”

U.S. bobsled coach Brian Shimer didn’t want to see that happen. He researched options, found Boxer Wachler, and sent Holcomb to California to meet the doctor. Holcomb was deemed a candidate for Visian ICL, or Implantable Collamer Lens, a 9-minute surgery where a contact is embedded behind the iris. It’s permanent, and so far, it’s worked for Holcomb.

His vision, once as bad as 20-1000 - which gets defined as “profound visual impairment” - is now close to perfect. He sees things on tracks that he never knew were there before.

“I was part of the FDA approval study for it,” Holcomb said. “I couldn’t wear contacts the day of the surgery, so they literally had to walk me around the room. And then they did it, I got up, and just like that, I was 20-20. It’s incredible. I call it an eye-opening experience.” Pun intended, of course.

Holcomb didn’t just suffer from keratoconus, but also was extremely nearsighted. So Boxer Wachler - who has performed similar procedures before live on national television, plus has worked with other athletes, most notably Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Derek Fisher - began the process by having Holcomb undergo what’s called C3-R, something that strengthens the anchors within the cornea and minimizes the bulging effect.

It’s relatively new technology and isn’t offered by many eye doctors yet. Boxer Wachler is considered the pioneer in this sort of work. “We’ve been doing this for five years,” Boxer Wachler said. “It’s not experimental for us. We call it an off-label procedure.”

But because of the costs involved, Holcomb almost decided not to undergo any procedure. Holcomb isn’t a rich man, by any stretch of the imagination. Bobsledders don’t get into their sport for money; it’s rare to find a sled that turns a profit at the end of a season, no matter how many races a team wins in a given year. The technology is costly, the perks are few, and when Holcomb was told how much Visian ICL would cost, he initially balked at going forward.

“It was every amount of prize money I’d ever won,” Holcomb said. “So the U.S. Bobsled Federation stepped up and donated, and the U.S. Olympic Committee stepped up and donated, and now I hope they can collect on it.” That shouldn’t be a problem.

When the World Cup season starts in Germany in a few weeks, Holcomb will be among the favorites once again. He ended last season ranked fourth among drivers in two- and four-man bobsled, and now with his vision no longer a stressful issue, he can’t see any reason why he shouldn’t improve on the track.

“Now that I can see, things are starting to click,” Holcomb said. “I already could feel out there on the track. It’s like putting a face to a name now. My eyes don’t hurt. My head doesn’t hurt. Before, I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t even play catch before. Someone would throw me something and it’d hit me in the face. Now I can focus on what’s important out there.”

To learn more and watch and education  vision on Keratoconus visit: www.FixesYourKC.com

Collagen Crosslinking has been a bit of  a controversial topic in the world of eyes. In recent years Collagen Crosslinking has shown great results in patients with progressive keratoconus. Studies a bit older proclaimed the same as well hoping to do away with the hazards of Corneal transplantation. And the crosslinking treatment in progressive keratoconus patients is yielding positive results.

Remarkably the increase was 328.9% in patients with progressive keratoconus. The overall studies showed that all the patients tested had their progression stop. The Dresden Clinical study showed that in a 3 and 5 year study 31 patients improved with a slight reversal while others simply stopped progression.

The use of Collagen Crosslinking with photosensitzer Riboflavin and A ultraviolet light provides a less invasive way of treating keratoconus. Researchers feel positive that this will soon become a widely used treatment for Progressive Keratoconus. The Collagen Crosslinking was used on over 100 people at the Dresden Center in Germany two years ago. Confident they have proven their methods to be sound and positive they are working to make it a widely used practice.

Collagen crosslinking only takes a mere 30-45 minutes to perform and can be done in the clinic with little side effects or discomfort. The results increase in their effects over the following months improving sight in the patients. Very seldom do patients need a second dose. However in some extremely progressive keratoconus patients a second dose is needed to achieve optimal effectiveness.

Keratoconus can be a debilitating disease. However if caught early there is  hope. Here is a list of risk factors:

Down Syndrome

Family History

Wearing Hard contacts that don’t properly fit

Seasoned Allergies with eye rubbing history

Direct eye trauma injuries

Over the years researchers, and doctors continue to make breakthroughs in Keratoconus treatment. In the hope that one day we won’t need to worry about it anymore. Continue to strive in your daily life and keep your vision first.

To learn more and watch and education  vision on Keratoconus visit: www.FixesYourKC.com

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Conductive Keratoplasty is a procedure that uses a small probe to improve the overall shape of the cornea. Conductive Keratoplasty [CK] was first used to improve the vision of those with farsightedness and Presbyopia but is now effective in patients with Astigmatism. Astigmatism is a condition that not only effects adults but is also found in Children causing difficulty learning and concentration in school and in sports. Astigmatism most often causes images to appear doubled.

Conductive Keratoplasty is done with the use of a small probe to precisely direct radio frequency energy to the areas of the cornea that have irregularities. This will add heat to the specific area affected causing a shrinking effect curving those areas of the cornea. Immediate improvement is noted and the use of corneal topography mapping is used to ensure that the doctor gets the best results possible. If the doctor sees any other areas that may be improved they will return to that area for immediate additional improvement. The overall procedure commonly takes about 5 minutes.

There are two forms of Astigmatism. Corneal Astigmatism which is the irregularity of the cornea. And Lenticular Astigmatism which is the irregularity of the lens. In most cases of early astigmatism there are no underlying symptoms. However as it progresses you will often have the following symptoms:

Blurred Vision

Distortion

Headaches

Straining of eyes

Children often complain of disturbances in their vision as well as blurred vision. Regular check ups will help catch astigmatism early. There are several treatments for astigmatism in children and adults. If the Astigmatism is due to a condition called Keratoconus, CK can be combined with other treatments to help reduce the damaging affects of Keratoconus.

For more information on this CK for Keratoconus visit: www.keratoconusinserts.com

Catherine has struggled for many years with the deterioration of her vision. As most Keratoconus patients do she has had a number of different corrective eye wear including Hard contacts which are many times difficult to handle creating irritation to the eyes, pain and discomfort – to having soft contacts that still don’t provide her with adequate vision.

Catherine started wearing the Hard contacts as a teen has suffered still with the problems of vision disturbances. Her Keratoconus had created a haze over things she saw making it difficult to see clear enough to make turns and walk down and up stairways while walking. Sometimes getting help with walking from her teenage children.

Catherine has gone to several ophthalmologists over the years. Receiving the same answer “We don’t know how to improve your vision.” Some requested she get a cornea transplant that even see considered but doctors were hesitant to perform. Recently Catherine did a search on treatments for Keratoconus and found Dr. Boxer Wachler.

She discovered that there were treatments that could help her with her severe nearsightedness and progressive Keratoconus. She immediately had an evaluation. Dr. Boxer Wachler performed 3 Treatments on Catherine’s eyes giving her remarkable results. In just 24 hours she stated:

Quote:

“For the first time in my life ever I can see things Clear”

Catherine is walking down the stairs without fear of falling, bending corners, and has the freedom of living a normal life again. Although see still wears glasses Catherine is very grateful for the procedures she received and to Dr. Boxer Wachler who gave her what see always dreamed…vision.

The procedures performed on Catherine where Intacs, C3-R®, and CK. These procedures can stop the progression of Keratoconus and help reverse the damage of Keratoconus on the eyes. Catherine had severe damage to her eyes so she still will need corrective lenses but her vision has improved drastically. The procedure affects each patient differently depending on the severity of the Keratoconus.

Below is a overview of the procedures performed on Catherine Bally:

INTACS: Are a small inserts placed in the eye which helps reduce the very steep cone area in patients with Keratoconus; it can have an added benefit of correcting some of the prescription. Intacs are minimally invasive you don’t feel them. INTACS don’t require maintenance and are relatively easy for the patient.

C3-R®: Is a treatment used to strengthen the fibers of the cornea and to stop the damage of Keratoconus. The procedure takes about 30 minutes to perform and 2-4 months to get full results.

CK: Uses a probe to add high radio frequency to the cornea. This causes the cornea to shrink. Changing its shape and correcting the cornea. It is often used on patients with Keratoconus to fix Astigmatism.

If you want to learn more about these procedures and other treatments available for Keratoconus visit www.keratoconusinserts.com or www.boxerwachler.com