Month: December 2012

There are many symptoms of Keratoconus. Managing the symptoms can be just as hard as dealing with the complications of the disease itself. One of the harder and more progressive symptoms of Keratoconus is headaches. While proper management of headaches can help you over the course of time, finding a way to cope with them can be even more challenging.

There are many reasons you may be having increased headaches including:

• Sensitivity to Light
• Eye Strain- as your vision decreases
• Dry eyes
• Decreased Night Vision

The increase of headaches can affect your daily activities. This can hinder you in the present as well as the future as the condition progresses. Finding an effective way to improve your symptoms can help you in the long run.

Coping With Headaches:

Many of us experience headaches regularly. For those who have a tendency to get migraines, or sinus headaches dealing with the pain is one of the first things we think about, however preventative measures are more effective.

Below are some preventative strategies that may help you manage your headaches as your Keratoconus progresses.

The use of UV protected eye wear:

Wearing sunglasses in the summer seems normal, but the effectiveness of wearing UV sunglasses throughout the year is great. They not only protect your eyes from further damage from the sun but also shields your light sensitive eyes as your Keratoconus progresses. They also keep you from straining in the light throughout the day.

Eye drops & Other Over the Counter Remedies:

Some relief can be found in artificial tears, and over the counter eye drops, however these are merely temporary relief and unless used daily they don’t offer you effective preventative remedies. Many people get headaches from straining of the eyes, or dry eyes and getting to the core of the cause of your headaches can give you more benefit that merely covering it up.

Relaxation & Meditation as a Preventative Measure:

Stress is a big trigger for many types of headaches. Many people with progressive conditions such as Keratoconus have a hard time coping with things changing in their lives and feel the stress. Learning to use some relaxation techniques such as palming can help you cope with your daily challenges in turn preventing future headaches one day at a time.

Palming:

Palming can assist you in relaxation throughout the day, relieving stress and preventing your headaches. Palming is a relaxation tool used at various intervals throughout the day. When you are in a quite private location, simply lay flat on the floor and place the palms of your hands across your eyes. Do this for intervals of 10-15 minutes throughout the day.

Eye Strain:

One of the most common of headaches is eye strain, often a result of changing prescription. This is the frustration facing those with Keratoconus, constant changing prescription. The most improtant remedy is Homcomb C3-R ® (cornea collage crosslinking). The Holcomb C3-R ® procedure helps stabilize the cornea and stop the ever changing glasses prescription.

You can learn more about Keratocons treatments here: http://www.AMKCA.org

Other information about eye strain can be found here http://www.medicinenet.com/eye_strain/article.htm

For more information about keratoconus visit the American Keratoconus Association

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         ©2019 BOXER WACHLER VISION INSTITUTE OF BEVERLY HILLS. 465 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 902, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.                          Call: 310.594.5210  Or   Text: 424.245.0171  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. email: info@boxerwachler.com.

Do you have a family member who is currently or has suffered with Keratoconus? Have you seen the progression of this condition and traditional treatment options for it? If you have said yes to these questions you probably have your own ideas on how its treatment will go. But did you know that treatment options for Keratoconus have changed considerably within the last decade? Did you know that Corneal Transplants, one of the most common treatments for the condition are rarely used anymore? Now treatments like glasses, contact lenses, INACS (cornea inserts), the Holcomb C3-R ® (cornea collage crosslinking) and many other options are available.

Today’s Treatment Options

Over the past decade many new treatments have been developed for Keratoconus patients. These new treatments have improved outcomes, help slow the progression, and in some cases reverse some of the damage of the condition.

The use of eye glasses: The use of eye glasses has been a treatment option for those with Keratoconus and many other condition for years. This treatment is generally used in the very early stages of Keratoconus. Other options are sought once the condition progresses.

Gas Permeable Lenses:

Another traditional treatment for Keratoconus is GP or Gas Permeable lenses. These are often hard contact lenses that require little maintenance. At this stage soft contacts can often be used as well in the treatment of Keratoconus. This type of contact lens is used when other treatments are no longer working. They can provide you with better quality of vision in your treatment plan. Talk it over with your eye care professional to find out what stage you are at in your treatment. Some brands of soft contact lenses that are particularly good for Keratoconus patients are KeraSoft Lenses, and NovaKone. In addition to the soft contact lenses, hard or Hybrid lenses like ClearKone ®, or Rose K are also used to improve the clarity of the patients’ visual experience.

The Holcomb C3-R ® or Corneal Cross-linking With Riboflavin: This is a relatively new treatment often used to improve the vision of those suffering with Keratoconus by using a more natural approach. The eyes are exposed to UV lights and a Vitamin rich solution called Riboflavin that heals, and strengthens the eyes from inside. The vitamins strengthen the fibers within the cornea over time and improve the overall vision of the patient. This treatment can also potentially reverse some of the damage done to the cornea over time. It is both effective and requires little recovery time.

To learn more about new treatments for Keratoconus you can visit www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/keratoconus.htm

For more information about keratoconus visit the American Keratoconus Association

Home   |   About Us   |   Cornea Cross Linking   |   Intacs   |   CK   |   Visian ICL   |   PRK   |   Testimonials   |   Media   |   Blog   |   Fly In   |   Research   |   Privacy Policy   |   Contact Us |   Sitemap

         ©2019 BOXER WACHLER VISION INSTITUTE OF BEVERLY HILLS. 465 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 902, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.                          Call: 310.594.5210  Or   Text: 424.245.0171  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. email: info@boxerwachler.com.