Kerataconus treatments

Andy00017

Has anyone gone over to the USA for treatment. I've been doing some research as I have kerataconus diagnosed in 2003 in my right eye which is bad cannot see without contact lens in it my left eye is not bad. There is a Dr Brian Boxer Wachler over in beverly hills I waiting to get prices back. He has a procedure called Holcomb C3-R combined with intacts to reshape and strengthen the cornea he has a lot of good reviews and he specialises in kerataconus. There was 1 irish person on here that went over a few years ago and the results were nearly instant. His procedure is kind of like CXL but doesn't need to scrape the cornea like CXL does. Has anyone else gone down this route ?

S.M.B.

C3R is a form of CXL that is pretty common in the UK these days. I would have thought the benefits are usually seen when done early in the progress of the KC.

I don't know anyone who's had intacs done unfortunately. I guess the CXL post intacs insertion could help.

Andy00017

S.M.B. wrote: »

C3R is a form of CXL that is pretty common in the UK these days. I would have thought the benefits are usually seen when done early in the progress of the KC.

I don't know anyone who's had intacs done unfortunately. I guess the CXL post intacs insertion could help.

He does the 2 procedures at the same time intacts in first followed by C3-R no scraping the cor near as does happen in CXL so it is literally non invasive and next to no healing time. Just waiting on emails back about it

S.M.B.

There are two types of CXL. Epi-off with the removal of the epithelium and epi-on which is basically C3R. The latter is obviously less invasive but the end goal is the same.

I'd be keen to hear if anyone with severe KC has successfully got this combo done.

Andy00017

S.M.B. wrote: »

There are two types of CXL. Epi-off with the removal of the epithelium and epi-on which is basically C3R. The latter is obviously less invasive but the end goal is the same.

I'd be keen to hear if anyone with severe KC has successfully got this combo done.

I've got the email prices back. Wow big money I'm not surprised considering it's your eyes and it's America with their high medical prices

S.M.B.

Too expensive to proceed or you're considering it?

Andy00017

S.M.B. wrote: »

Too expensive to proceed or you're considering it?

I think I would consider it in the future. This DR and this procedure is nearly a guarantee fix for keratoconus. My right is bad vision wearing a hybrid lens for that eye have kerataconus in it since 2003. My left eye has not progressed much I'm wearing only a soft lens in that eye but recently I've seen the usual symptoms of very early kerataconus I'm nearly 40 so I don't know if that means it'll progress much at this age of my life from what I've been researching I would definitely get this but it's a lot of money. I'm not staring at a corneal transplant yet but if my only option was a corneal transplant I would find the money for this alternative for sure. Here is the prices but you have to factor in fights hotel and spending money as well.

Exam $395 (also includes book on keratoconus by Dr. Boxer Wachler)

INTACS $5,050/per eye

C3-R $3,850/per eye

CK $3,850/per eye

ICL $5,750/per eye

Andy00017

Andy00017 wrote: »

I think I would consider it in the future. This DR and this procedure is nearly a guarantee fix for keratoconus. My right is bad vision wearing a hybrid lens for that eye have kerataconus in it since 2003. My left eye has not progressed much I'm wearing only a soft lens in that eye but recently I've seen the usual symptoms of very early kerataconus I'm nearly 40 so I don't know if that means it'll progress much at this age of my life from what I've been researching I would definitely get this but it's a lot of money. I'm not staring at a corneal transplant yet but if my only option was a corneal transplant I would find the money for this alternative for sure. Here is the prices but you have to factor in fights hotel and spending money as well.

Exam $395 (also includes book on keratoconus by Dr. Boxer Wachler)

INTACS $5,050/per eye

C3-R $3,850/per eye

CK $3,850/per eye

ICL $5,750/per eye

Yoor looking at for everything flights all bills etc. €24000 - €25000

Andy00017

Andy00017 wrote: »

Yoor looking at for everything flights all bills etc. €24000 - €25000

From all the reviews he quoting a 99.3% of stopping kerataconus and vision correction to 20/25 there was an Irish person on here that went over and got it done off him 4 yrs ago and he was at the point of a corneal transplant at that point and he stated the same results like turning back time. If it was half this price I'd get it tomorrow but yeah it's a lot of money I may consider it if my condition changes

Andy00017

S.M.B. wrote: »

Too expensive to proceed or you're considering it?

You should look at his website and you tube vidoes the work he does looks amazing I don't know about the UK but compared to Ireland their light years ahead over there. His name is DR Brian Boxer Wachler

S.M.B.

e25,000 for something that doesn't guarantee success is not something I can see myself doing. I'm not sure if INTACS is an option available to me but maybe it's worth looking into.

I am in a similar enough situation to yourself. Few years younger but was diagnosed in 1998. Have little to no vision in one eye since birth so I've been avoiding the operation table for the past 20 years.

I've gone through numerous lens and am reaching a point where I've gone through all available options. Lens wear is restricted at the moment which is leaving me in a difficult position.

I've seen the best of Ireland and the UK but have never looked at options in the US.

Lovinguinness

Hey all,

I am 40 year old male and doing back to education (long story but was self employed and had a rare cancer in 2015).

Through doing a course last year in computing I noticed my eyes were what I though was very tired and after illness and heading back to education and entering 40 I put it down to tiredness and stress.

Anyway over the summer decided to get the eyes done, since I had a medical card from the cancer days I had a two month wait (would have been longer only I forced it) to get the free full eye test. It was then kerataconus reared its ulgy head. I was told I needed to see an opthmalogist. Another month or so and got that done. Seemly left eye was bad and the right eye was deemed severe.

Next job was rgb lenses were needed. So I found out no place in kerry seemed to do them. Research brough me to the DIT optical school, where if you let the students play around you get good offers. This option suited me as private would be ubber expensive and public, I would be underground by the time they would get my eyes seen too.

Left eye since sorted. Right eye lense is due Thursday. So should be ok for a few years. The right eye is as bad as it should get apparently (even the highest snell letters are sqiddly).

My main question is kerataconus reason enough to move from back to education payment to disability, the main reason being free travel would ease my costs as both my oncology appointments and eye treatments now are dublin based, plus I have another 3 years college left and disability would mean no need to go on jobseekers during the summer months ?

Anyone else in a similar position who can offer advice would be greatfully received.