Kerato-what?
I've been recently looking into getting laser vision correction. The University of California San Diego, which is just a few minutes north of where I live, has a well known doctor named David Schanzlin with impressing sounding credentials. About three weeks ago I had my first big checkup where I was subjected to all sorts of strange (but cool) machines to scan my eyes, and then a comprehensive exam to do what the machines couldn't do. About two and a half hours later I met with Dr Schanzlin to be told that both of my eyes have a funny little bump in the bottom half, represented in a topology map to the right by the yellow zone.So, let me introduce the word of the day: "keratoconus". This fancy little word describes my vision history entirely too comfortably: a slight astigmatism in one eye and then several years later funny little bumps, usually in the lower half of both eyes. What does it all mean? The link above contains some nice information, but this page is also pretty interesting too.
At this point it is still a bit early to jump to conclusions, as I've been in contact lenses for about 10 years now. As my sharp-visioned siblings can attest to, before you can get LASIK you must be out of your contacts prior to surgery, as the contact lenses change the shape of your eyes a bit. In some cases (hopefully mine) the changes can be a bit more pronounced than is typical.
Bottom line? According to the good doctor, odds are 3 to 1 that I'm looking at (no pun intended) keratoconus, which means no LASIK, as further weakening a thinning cornea is a bad thing. I have an appointment Thursday afternoon to take some more pictures of my eyes now that they've had even more time to normalize. Keep your fingers crossed!
posted by Jonathon @ 11:43 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
That's a bummer. I had a topology map done a few years ago when I gave up contacts. At the time I was told that the surface was quite irregular and I would not be a good candidate for LASIK. Which was ok because I was not planning on it. But I was never told that I had anything specifically wrong. So if it's hereditary, you didn't get it from me. :-)
Let us know what comes of you next appointment. Thanks for sharing.
Wow - you oughta talk to your Dad. He had a similar experience when he switched to glasses.
I like to TiVo medical shows and one that aired last week was showing new technology that is for people who are
not candidates for LASIK. They actually insert a lens, that will never need replacing. It is done in just a few minutes and it is all out patient work. I will see if it is still recored and let you know what it is called. Maybe that might be an option. If not, your still cute with or without glasses.
I like to TiVo medical shows and one that aired last week was showing new technology that is for people who are
not candidates for LASIK. They actually inserted a lens, that will never need replacing. It is done in just a few minutes and it is all out patient work. I will see if it is still recored and let you know what it is called. Maybe that might be an option. If not, your still cute with or without glasses.
I like to TiVo medical shows and one that aired last week was showing new technology that is for people who are
not candidates for LASIK. They actually inserted a lens, that will never need replacing. It is done in just a few minutes and it is all out patient work. I will see if it is still recored and let you know what it is called. Maybe that might be an option. If not, your still cute with or without glasses.
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