Getting a diagnosis of Keratoconus can be a shock to anyone’s system. Understanding what your options are can help you come back to earth after getting the news. Past diagnosis of Keratoconus were not to promising for your vision and progressive deterioration of your vision was expected but now with new technologies there is new hope for patients diagnosed with Keratoconus and some are successfully regaining sight they have lost.

In the past many doctors had to use either hard contact lens or corneal transplants which was invasive and often painful. Now you have new treatments like INTACS or C3-R® which are making waves in the world of Vision treatments.

INTACS-

INTACS is a 10 minute procedure that is improving the vision of many Keratoconus patients today. The procedure has no pain and consists of the doctor placing a small plastic insert in the cornea helping to reshape it giving you clearer vision. The INTACS can be removed later if needed and you don’t even feel it.

C3-R® -

C3-R® is a simple 30 minute treatment. During the treatment the doctor will place a set of drops in your eyes and add UV lights on your eyes to activate the medication. The UV lights will be applied for 30 minutes. You vision will then improve over the next 2-3 months. The drops process strengthens your cornea improving your vision.

Many patients with Keratoconus use both INTACS & C3-R® as a combined treatment. The effects of the treatments are still astonishing doctors. To find out more information on INTACS or C3-R® visit http://www.keratoconusinserts.com

or

http://www.boxerwachler.com

Watch a free webinar: www.FixesYourKeratoconus.com

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Our journey through life is often a bumpy one. Many of us have trouble coping with stress and the riggers life brings without throwing Progressive Keratoconus in the mix. However finding new ways to cope with your disease can help reduce extra problems along the way. Below are a few tips to assist you in making life a little easier:

Tip 1: Educate yourself:

Your doctor can do a lot for you but when you take the initiative to find out about your illness you can ask important questions, feel more comfortable with what they are telling you, learn whys you can help yourself.

Tip 2: Find a good doctor:

It is just as important to find a eye doctor you are comfortable with as it is to find a general physician. Make sure that the doctor you choose is comfortable with you asking questions, they are concerned about you, and that they have proper time for you. If you notice it is hard to schedule an appointment, or they take more than 24 hours getting back to you than you should find another doctor.

Tip 3: Reduce the amount of times you rub your eyes:

Progressive Keratoconus can be increased by excessive eye rubbing. To ensure you don’t create anymore damage speak with your doctor about dry eye, allergies, and other conditions that can cause itchy and irritated eyes. They may be able to prescribe drops or medications to help you combat these problems.

Tip 4: Explore C3-R to stop the Process:

C3-R is a revolutionary new procedure that stops the progression of Keratoconus. It is a one time 30 minute procedure performed in a eye doctors office. This will help preserve your current eyesight and in some cases improve the quality of vision in your contacts or glasses.

Tip 5: Find a good contact lens fitter:

Find a contact lens fitter that sees Keratoconus on a regular basis i.e. weekly or even better daily. It is important that they offer a full range of contact lens options, soft toric contacts, hybrid contacts, piggy back lenses, Rose-K, Dyna-Z intralimbal, and Mini-sclera are some of those options that should be available.

Most of all pamper yourself. Don’t worry about all the things that are wrong or what may happen 5 years from now find out how you can treat your condition now. There are many treatments out now that can greatly improve even reverse the damage of keratoconus. Focus on your treatment, taking care of yourself, and your education. You are your best tool.

To learn more on Keratoconus Visit: http://www.keratoconusinsert.com

To watch our free webinar on Keratoconus visit: http://www.FixesYourKeratoconus.com

Now you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter:

www.boxerwachler.com/facebook

https://twitter.com/DrBoxerWachler

Treatments for progressive Keratoconus patients have been quite a difficult choice to handle. Grasping the idea of having an illness that will continue to progress as you grow older is enough to bring anyone down. However new treatments in Keratoconus bring hope to suffers. The new treatments have shown excellent results in slowing, stopping, and in some cases reversing the damage this disease have caused altogether.

So what does this mean for Keratoconus patients? This means they many not have to endure uncomfortable contact lens like RGP Lens or face invasive procedures like Corneal Transplant. The experts at the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute have already treated hundreds of patients with the new techniques such as the use of INTACS and procedures such as C3R®.

Keratoconus patients are showing positive results, excellent vision improvement, and improved their sight in as little as 2 weeks. I bet now your wondering what these procedures are? Am I right?

INTACS- Are small plastic semi-circle inserts that are placed in the cornea. They require no maintenance and they are so light you won’t even know they are there. Intacs help to reshape the cornea, which can improve the quality of vision and comfort in contact lens and glasses. Some patients find that this provides so much improvement that they are able to do some activities without the need for contacts or lens.  Additionally the C3R  procedure can be combined with the Intacs procedure to maximize the results.

C3R – Is a procedure that strengthens your cornea by placing special solution of drops composed of Riboflavin on the affected eye and applying UV light on the area for 30 minutes to activate the solution. There is no pain and in most cases this is a one time procedure.  Over the course of 3 months the solution continues to work gradually increasing and strengthening your cornea. There have been people to report significant improvement in as little as 24 hours.

The choices for Keratoconus treatments are growing, no one should be left in the dark.

Watch a Free Educational Webinar: www.FixesYourKC.com

Subscribe to a weekly Audio Podcast: Keratoconus Weekly

Progressive Keratoconus [a.k.a KC] can be a difficult condition to live with. The loss of vision can be frustrating and disruptive to regular daily activities we know and love. However Keratoconus can also be difficult for families with suffering loved ones.

Keratoconus affects about 1 in every 2,000 Americans. Keratoconus however is not just a problem in the US people are suffering everywhere. World-wide the disease is estimated to effect 50-230 in every 100,000 patients.

Many patients have to cope with symptoms of keratoconus daily. Managing symptoms can be difficult. They can consist of:

• Eye Strain- producing headaches and blurred vision

• Poor Night Vision- producing halos, double vision, and vision loss while driving at night

• Photophobia- [Sensitivity to light]- producing headaches, watery eyes, and dark spots

Below are 3 helpful things to think of when managing your Keratoconus:

Tip 1: Finding the Right Doctor- Determining if your doctor is the right one for you can be difficult. Making sure you check the very basic of things is important. Here are a few things to ask to see if your doctor is right for you.

What do you specialize in? -  It is important your doctor works with patients with                      keratoconus.

What is your success rate in treatment of Keratoconus?

What treatments does your office provide for patients with Keratoconus?

Tip 2. Assess your treatment options- Don’t wait for your doctor to tell you what options are available. Do your homework, evaluate your options and write down any additional questions you have for your doctor.

Some treatments are:

• Glasses for early keratoconus which can correct astigmatism

• Semi Soft & RGP’s [Rigid Gas Permeable] Contact Lens for people with mild to moderate keratoconus.

• Collagen Crosslinking [or C3R®] used to strengthen the cornea fibers for better vision results.

Tip 3: Support Groups- Support groups not only assist you with coping with the daily stress of Keratoconus, but it helps your family deal with it as well. Finding a support group can give your and your family comfort, knowledge, and friendship while you are being treated for your condition.

To Learn more on Keratoconus Treatment options or view a Free Webinar visit: www.FixesYourKC.com

When many of us think of Keratoconus we remember past treatments and feel the heartache this degenerative disease has had on our lives. For years the inevitable result of Keratoconus has been Corneal Transplant. This has caused great concern for the thousands that suffer with this disease each year. The Boxer Wachler Vision Institute is changing the lives of many with unbelievable treatments that have a profound improvement in the eyes of many.

Meet Beverly Markiewicz- who suffered from Keratoconus and too feared the inevitable. She searched for over a year hoping to find help for her degenerative disease and the chance to save her vision. She ran across treatments like Intacs, CK, and C3R®- Very Skeptical about the effectiveness of the treatments she decided to undergo them all in one day.

Quote:
“I was greeted by a wonderful, very professional staff”

Beverly had all three procedures done in the same day, little pain, and virtually non-invasive the procedures showed incredible results in as little as the following day.

Quote:
“ I am almost seeing 20/20” Says an excited Beverly.

Meet Thomas Johnson-  He has had Keratoconus for 15-16 years. He was also facing a Corneal Transplant. He was not certain about this choice. Not many are considering the risks, and depth of the procedure. However Mr. Johnson also learned of Intacs, C3R®, and CK. He decided to undergo these procedures instead of the corneal transplant- his results were amazing. After just 24 hours Mr. Johnson was seeing 20/25. His thoughts on the procedure:

Quote:
“Run, don’t walk to see Dr. Boxer Wachler”

Remember treatment is available for you, but you don’t have to take my word for it. Just listen to the hundreds of satisfied patients of the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute.

To find out more on Keratoconus and its treatment options or to see an educational webinar visit: www.FixesYourKC.com

When I started college I was an Ocean Lifeguard. At school, I found it harder to focus on textbooks. I thought it was just the chlorine from the pool. I had my eyes checked and I was diagnosed with astigmatism in one eye and I started wearing glasses while studying. As lifeguarding became my chosen profession, I found it hard to focus in the afternoon as the Southern California sun set lower in the sky.

When running out for a rescue, I would often lose my prescription sunglasses. I tried soft lenses, but sand got under them and that was uncomfortable. The lenses often slid up behind my eyes and even floated away when I swam. I often went without correction because of the irritation. By late afternoon I would see double images of objects far away, such as a boat on the horizon.

When laser eye surgery became available, I was excited. However, I was discouraged to learn that I had keratoconus in one eye and was not a candidate for LASIK. I came across an article and some studies by Dr. Boxer Wachler. I was optimistic after my first meeting with him in 1999. He explained a new procedure Intacs that would help correct my keratoconus and vision. Back then Intacs had not been reported on a patient with keratoconus in the United States, but he felt it was ready to be attempted. As I was a good candidate, I welcomed the opportunity.  A week after surgery, the vision in that eye improved to a great degree. I was able to see nearly equally with both eyes and it was unnecessary to wear glasses or contacts at work. After a few months I noticed that I was relying more and more on the corrected eye!

It has now been about eight years since I had Intacs and I still do not wear corrective lenses. I am able to pick objects out of the glare on the horizon and street signs on the freeway well before I need to turn. The freedom I have gained and the confidence I now have in my vision has proven invaluable to me and my ability to continue in my profession.

The ability to see well in lifeguarding is critical, and I no longer have the worry that I might miss something that could result in someone’s pain, suffering or their life. I owe this self assuredness to Dr. Boxer Wachler and to Intacs.

I feel fortunate to have been at the right place at the right time in history. I can

appreciate the saying, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” I am glad that my pioneering experience helped pave the way for the thousands of other patients who have subsequently benefited from innovative advancements for keratoconus. I am pleased to dedicate this book to the thousands of future patients who will benefit from these innovations.

- Kenny Atkins, first reported Intacs® for

keratoconus patient in the United States

Learn more about keratoconus treatments: www.FixesYourKC.com - watch a free educational seminar.

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

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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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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

For years researchers and Doctors have been looking for effective ways to treat patients with keratoconus. In the past the options were very slim with little hope for reversals or healing the corneas. Often patients had to receive corneal transplants to get relief from diseases like Keratoconus. However now they are finding new and less invasive ways to correct the progression of keratoconus.

Keratoconus is caused by free radicals which invade the eye and create a reactive species which break down and cause weakness. The weakness causes the cornea to herniate causing keratoconus. The progression is not over night but over years and the effects of keratoconus can be debilitating for the patient leading to blindness. In the beginning of the disease there are little symptoms and patients often overlook a problem. The condition often strikes one eye first later spreading to the second eye by the time a problem is detected.

Now there is a treatment called C3-R® which can strengthen the cornea in the places that are weakened and give the reverse effect of the damage done by keratoconus. The treatment is relatively easy with only 30 minutes to apply and the cornea is strengthened over the next 2-4 months. Many patients only need one application, while more severe cases may require two.

The use of C3-R® or Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin has been very effective in recent years and can give tremendous improvement to the patients vision. In addition to C3-R® the doctor can use Intacs, and/or CK to additionally improve the sight of the patient.

A few symptoms of Keratoconus are:

Itchy eyes

Excessive Rubbing

visual disturbances

visual discomfort

glare halo

squinting

seeing double

For more information on Keratoconus and its treatments visit: www.keratoconusinserts.com