When Will Keratoconus Stop Progressing?

I have keratoconus patients as young as 8 and as old as 50. And one of the questions that they usually ask is when will their keratoconus stop progressing? It has been found that kids usually progress faster and leads to more advanced cases, while for those that were diagnosed in their 20's would not progress as fast compared to the kids. The protocol would still be to have collagen cross linking if the cornea is still thick enough for the procedure. With collagen cross linking, riboflavin drops in combination with UV rays strengthen the collagen fibrils of the cornea, enabling the resistance of the cornea to get thinner and protrude. A study also showed that the as one ages, there is a natural process of cross linking, and thus it was concluded that around the 4th decade of life, keratoconus would be stable already. That is good news I guess, getting older has its perks, but if you have keratoconus and has reached the age of 40, you are entering the stage of presbyopia. Similar to non-keratoconic patients, you may also be starting to experience difficulty in reading small prints. This is because of the anatomical condition where the focusing muscles are not flexible enough to enable your lenses to focus well. Good news though, your doctor will be able to help you by optimising your contact lenses to help you read. Here are some options that your eye doctor may consider: 1. Correct you fully for far and offer you readers; 2. Compromised vision where 1 eye is corrected for far and the other corrected for near; 3. Multifocal contact lenses. The option chosen will depend on the best corrected visual acuity as well as the corneal condition.

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Can You Do Weight Lifting If You Have Keratoconus?

Many patients are asking if they can still do weight lifting since they have keratoconus. During weight lifting, in order to carry tons of weight, a powerlifter may utilise a breathing pattern which involves Valsalva manoeuvre. According to wikipedia, t he V alsalva manoeuvre is performed by moderately forceful attempted exhalation against closed airway, usually done by closing one's mouth, pinching one's nose shut while pressing out as if blowing up a balloon. Other situations where Valsava manoeuvre is done are during diving, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, air travel and sometimes even going to the restroom doing your number 1. According to Findley, Keating and Toscano (2003), the Valsalva manoeuvre is commonly used in powerlifting to stabilise the trunk during activities such as squat, deadlift, and bench press. So what happens to the cornea when Valsalva manoeuvre i...

How to Know If Your Keratoconus is Progressing?

Keratoconus typically starts at puberty and progresses until the third or fourth decade of life. At initial diagnosis, younger patients with the steepest corneal curvature (Kmax) of over 55 D have a significantly greater risk of progression. Keratoconus seen at this age is more aggressive, leading to more severe cases. Without any management, the corneal curvature becomes more conical in shape, which can cause worsening of vision, thinning and scarring of the cornea, and possible development of hydrops. However, it tends to stabilize after 20 years from the first diagnosis. To detect keratoconus progression, some corneal parameters need to be evaluated. WHAT THE EYE DOCTOR IS LOOKING FOR? -Increase maximum corneal refractive power (Kmax) by more than 1 Diopter within one year. -An increase in (corneal) myopia by more than 3 Diopter or astigmatism by more than 1.5 Diopter within one year. -An average corneal refractive power increase by more than 1.5 Diopter within one ...

Can I Drink Alcoholic Beverages While Wearing Scleral Lenses?

Scleral lenses are fitted to patients with complicated prescriptions and irregular corneas. A common question I encountered is "Doc, is it safe to drink alcoholic beverages while I am wearing my scleral lenses?" . Looking into the different papers on the effects of alcoholic beverages on the eye, alcohol, similar to coffee and smoking, can induce some ocular dryness. Studies noted the presence of ethanol in tears of patients within 6 to 12 hours after drinking alcoholic beverages. The presence of ethanol in tears may cause increased evaporation rate, increased corneal staining, and decreased tear volume, leading to dry eyes. Unlike in soft contact lenses, the material of scleral lenses does not undergo dehydration. However, scleral lens wearers may still feel some symptoms of dryness. It is essential, though, to be sure to be still able to remove your lenses when you get home, clean and store them properly. We have one patient who was ...

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