KERATOCONUS

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…

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…

Should I Wear Contacts to an Eye Exam? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS May 10, 2023 If you wear contact lenses, should you wear them to your eye exam? There is conflicting information online. But below is universal guidance. Ultimately, each clinic has their own preference. To be sure, ask a representative where you will…

Dot on Scleral Lens: What Does it Mean? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS April 19, 2023 If you wear scleral lenses, there is a fair chance that one of your lenses has a black dot on it. The black dot serves two potential functions. First, it can help you identify the right from left lens.…

How Contact Lens Power and Prescription Differ by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS February 15, 2023 A contact lens prescription includes several parameters including power. Lens power describes light-bending efficacy. It is just one part of a contact lens prescription. Other elements of a contact lens prescription include material, diameter, and base curve. Custom scleral lenses…

Benefits and Disadvantages of Scleral Lenses Over RGPs by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS January 23, 2023 If you wear rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, perhaps you have heard about scleral contact lenses. Are scleral contact lenses right for you? Learn six advantages of scleral lenses and two potential disadvantages over RGP lenses. Why Wear…

Saline for Scleral Contact Lenses by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS October 23, 2022   If you wear scleral contact lenses, which saline solution should you fill your lenses with? The answer is simple: preservative-free saline. Learn below what preservatives are, what happens if you do not follow this guidance, and the benefits of adhering to…

Pellucid Marginal Degeneration is Keratoconus by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS August 15, 2022 What is Pellucid Marginal Degeneration? So, your eye doctor diagnosed you with pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD). PMD is an eye disease where the front clear dome of the eye, the cornea, is distorted and blurs vision. But how is PMD different from…

Keratoconus: Empowering or Embarrassing? by Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, FSLS June 13, 2022 If you have keratoconus, you may wonder whether to embrace it, or if it is a social stigma. The short answer is it depends on your perception. Yet with the excellent treatments today for keratoconus, most eventually view their condition as a source…