I'm 37 and have keratoconus. I currently wear glasses with a strong prescription and/or scleral lenses. Is there a surgical option that could get rid of my glasses or lenses for good?
A: There are two separate questions here, and it’s important to understand both.
First, you need CXL (corneal cross-linking) to stop your keratoconus from getting worse. This is not optional if you want to protect your vision long-term, and it’s typically covered by medical insurance.
Second, once your disease is stabilized, you may also be a candidate for LASEK to correct your astigmatism and see significantly better, not just avoid getting worse. I’m the only LASEK surgeon in New York City, which means I’m the only surgeon who can offer you that improvement on top of CXL. LASEK is not typically covered by insurance, so this would be an out-of-pocket decision, and only if I determine after examining you that you’re a good candidate.
My recommendation: call the office and book a second opinion appointment for keratoconus. I’ll examine your eyes, walk you through your specific options, and if you’d like, connect you directly with a patient of mine who had keratoconus and underwent both CXL and LASEK. No other eye surgeon in the country offers that kind of direct connection to a past patient. See you soon.
— Dr. Chynn
