Patient education is extremely important. When your child comes for an eye exam we try to explain everything about your child's diagnosis to you before you leave and we welcome call-backs. We also offer supplemental methods to improve your understanding of childhood vision problems. Dr. DeRespinis has put together a series of talks on common and not so common eye conditions, with audio-visual enhancements at the following website. Click here to enter the site www.theeyesiteforkids.com
Choose the topic of interest and just click on the icons and sit back and listen. Other sites highly recommended by Drs. DeRespinis & Pearlstein to obtain information on conditions affecting the eyes are hosted by THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY & STRABISMUS and THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY. Click on the Links below to enter the sites.
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Keratoconus usually occurs in both eyes and is characterized by symptoms such as blurred vision (even when wearing glasses or contact lenses), glare at night, light sensitivity, frequent prescription changes or eye rubbing. Generally, this disease is diagnosed by the time patients reach their 20's. Because keratoconus is not usually visible to the naked eye, special testing is used for a detailed look at the shape of the cornea.
The first line of treatment for patients with keratoconus is to fit rigid gas permeable contact lenses. Because this type of contact is not flexible, it creates a smooth, evenly shaped surface to see through. However, because of the cornea's irregular shape, specialty contact lenses are often required. If vision deteriorates to the point that contact lenses no longer provide adequate vision, a corneal transplant may be necessary to replace the diseased cornea with a healthy one.