Keratoconus & Astigmatism: What’s the Difference? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS April 11, 2024 If you have keratoconus, an eye doctor has almost assuredly told you that you have astigmatism. Keratoconus and astigmatism can get confused. What are they and how are they related to one another? The Short Explanation Keratoconus is an eye disease which distorts vision and affects one in several hundred. By comparison, astigmatism is not an eye disease but describes how light bends through the eye in a disordered way. Astigmatism is very common, with roughly half of humans having measurable ..read more

Do Hard Contacts Help Keratoconus? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS March 19, 2024   If you wonder if hard contacts can help keratoconus, please read on! The short answer is that yes, hard contact lenses can help keratoconus. However, there is much more you need to know to understand what is meant by this. “Hard Contacts” a Misnomer Eye doctors today no longer prescribe the true “hard” contact lenses which were made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) which were commonplace prior to 1978. PMMA lenses are completely impermeable to oxygen. PMMA lenses can cause eye health complications due ..read more

Can You Have Keratoconus in One Eye? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS January 21, 2024   The short answer is that keratoconus naturally affects both eyes. But this is a trick question. There are unusual and unexpected instances of keratoconus in just one eye! Read on to learn how. Keratoconus Affects Both Eyes As a genetic eye disease, keratoconus affects both eyes although often asymmetrically. Sometimes the asymmetry is so pronounced that one eye may seem normal. In the past, diagnostic technologies were not sensitive enough to detect subtle indicators of keratoconus. Consequently, so ..read more

Soft Contacts for Keratoconus: Fantasy or Possibility? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS December 27, 2023 Most keratoconus patients have custom rigid surface contact lenses as their lifeline to navigate the world. For mild corneal distortion, glasses and soft disposable contact lenses sometimes will afford adequate vision. Yet in most cases of keratoconus with more corneal distortion, rigid surface lenses — including scleral contact lenses— are the mainstay to rehabilitate vision. Most keratoconus patients find that properly prescribed scleral lenses provide excellent vision and comfort. Som ..read more

The Digital Rear-View Mirror: Impractical for Most Over 50 by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS December 12, 2023 In 2019, Toyota introduced their digital rear-view mirror. Unlike a traditional rearview mirror, this electronic version is a screen which displays a real-time video feed of what’s behind your car. Is it worth getting? Benefits of Digital Rear-View Mirrors Cargo obstructing your sightline with a traditional rear-view mirror. If your trunk is piled to the ceiling with cargo obstructing your sightline with a traditional rear-view mirror, the electronic version would stil ..read more

LASIK versus Lasix: The Difference is Horses by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS November 14, 2023 LASIK and Lasix are pronounced similarly and sometimes get confused with one another. Yet they are completely different. LASIK is a type of eye surgery. Lasix is the trade name of a drug called furosemide, used to reduce fluid in the body. LASIK LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a commonly performed refractive eye surgery to reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses. About 10 million Americans have had LASIK since FDA approval in 1999. There is also a procedure called LAS ..read more

Does Myopia Prevention Exploit Your Anxiety? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS September 19, 2023 Have you noticed more eye care practices advertising myopia prevention? This emerging service is also called “myopia control” and “myopia management”. The longstanding treatment for myopia improves vision using traditional glasses and contact lenses, or laser vision correction. Myopia prevention goes one step further, attempting to also slow the expected progression of myopia in children. Today, about 42% of the U.S. population is nearsighted, or myopic, representing a significant increase ..read more

Getting Closure on Incomplete Blink by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS August 12, 2023 Did you know that some people cannot fully close their eyes? This condition is called lagophthalmos. While you might believe that this is a biological curiosity – just like yawns and hiccups – lagophthalmos can cause miserable pain due to the sensitive eye surface drying out. Causes of Lagophthalmos Incomplete eyelid closure has several possible causes, including: A side effect of a cosmetic eyelid surgery called blepharoplasty. Paralysis of the Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve VII), due to infection or trauma ..read more

Why Do New Contact Lenses Require Examination? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS July 20, 2023 In the US, disposable contact lenses are Class II medical devices which require a prescription for purchase. Nonetheless, contact lens manufacturers market them directly to consumers as if no prescription is required. Despite the misleading suggestion that contact lenses are a do-it-yourself purchase, your doctor has a responsibility to prescribe contact lenses that are safe, comfortable, and correct vision. Switching Contact Lens Types Consumers often mistakenly believe that switching from one ty ..read more

Why Are Scleral Lenses Expensive? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS June 18, 2023 If you wear scleral lenses, you likely discovered that disposable soft contact lenses will not bring you a satisfactory outcome. Scleral contact lens wearers have unique eye-related requirements where common treatment fails. Scleral lenses are expensive, often approaching $1,000 each. Highly customized scleral lenses like EyePrintPRO can approach $3,000 each. The cost of the lenses excludes the financial obligation for professional evaluation and prescribing services. You may wonder why a simple-looking plasti ..read more