Many corneal conditions threaten the health of your eyes and vision. Since the cornea is responsible for most of your eye’s focusing power, you should see an experienced expert with any concerns. Keratoconus is one such condition.
What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus occurs when the clear tissue of the cornea thins and bulges outward, causing vision to progressively decline. The condition makes vision blurry beyond what glasses or normal contact lenses can correct. It typically involves both eyes, although it can progress at different rates in each eye.
The condition commonly begins in puberty, progressing into a person’s 30s or 40s. In fact, we often pick it up when young people come in for a comprehensive eye exam before starting school.
For this reason, at Eye Medical Clinic, we recommend young people have an annual comprehensive eye exam. And before the school year begins is a great time to get that done! Not only will we look at your student’s vision, but we will also check for signs of disease.
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How do you Treat Keratoconus?
Eye Medical Clinic offers several options. Traditionally, treatment has involved using scleral contact lenses. These lenses are a little larger than a typical contact lens and sit on the sclera (white part) of the eye.
We also offer an advanced treatment option that is seeing great success called Corneal Cross-linking. The aim of this minimally-invasive, in-office treatment is to stop the progression of keratoconus, preventing further deterioration in vision. Our corneal specialist Dr. Jeanie Paik has significant experience working with this advanced treatment.
Cross-Linking Sets New Standard of Care
In 2016, iLink™ corneal cross-linking became the only FDA-approved procedure for treating progressive keratoconus. iLink™ corneal cross-linking is a minimally invasive procedure that combines ultraviolet light and specially formulated eye drops to stiffen and strengthen weakened corneas.
“Cross-linking is considered the standard of care around the world for progressive keratoconus.”
-Dr. Jeanie Paik
Eye Medical Clinic is proud to offer our patients the iLink™ corneal cross-linking for treating progressive keratoconus. Now, patients who once had few options can slow or halt the progression of this sight-threatening disease.
We’re often asked if insurance covers this new treatment. Good news! iLink™ is now widely recognized. As a result, insurance in the US covers the procedure in over 95% of cases.
If you or your child have been diagnosed with keratoconus, it is important to have regular eye exams. Be sure and consult Eye Medical Clinic, pioneers of research, development and solutions in all things vision related. We’d be honored to serve you.
