National Keratoconus Foundation

Chang Reaction Episode 2 is out now! Join NKCF and Dr. Clark Chang, OD as he answers YOUR keratoconus questions in this podcast-style video. Dr. Chang answers a variety of keratoconus questions, such as: how to deal with uncomfortable contact lenses, how to prevent your scleral lenses from fogging up, tells us if warm compresses for dry eye management are damaging for keratoconus, and how to remove two contact lenses that are in the same eye! ... Watch here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBe4C6qk-6E New episodes will be released on the first of each month. Visit our website (nkcf.org) to submit your own keratoconus question for Chang Reaction.

Congratulations to Dr. Dan Fuller from his friends at National Keratoconus Fdn!

JOIN us at the National Down Syndrome Society for Glaukos's panel ‘Down Syndrome & Keratoconus: A Parent’s Perspective.’ Sylvia Moran, parent of Saraha member of the Down syndrome community diagnosed with keratoconustogether with Mitch Ibach, an Optometrist at Vance Thompson Vision and Mary Prudden, Director of the National Keratoconus Foundation will discuss Sarah’s journey living with #keratoconus from diagnosis to treatment, and beyond. Thursday, April 22nd at 12:00-1:15...PM EST. Find out more at https://give.ndss.org//2021-ndss-virtual-adult-sum/e318528 See more

Transportation for Medical Treatments: Angel Flight East (AFE) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide free, non-emergency air transportation for individuals with medical conditions who require treatment far from home. AFE serves the Northeast region of the United States. If you require medical care that is greater than 100 and less than 1,000 miles from home, AFE may be able to offer assistance or put you in contact with similar organizations in other part...s of the country. Volunteer pilots use their personal aircraft and pay expenses for each mission, allowing the trip to be free-of-cost to the passenger. Patients must be medically stable, and able to board and fly in a small, private aircraft. To request a flight, a physician or healthcare professional must verify the passenger’s medical condition and confirm that the condition will not be affected by the nonpressurized cabin. AFE requires advance notice, and flights cannot be guaranteed, so patients are urged to have a back-up travel plan or flexibility in rescheduling the medical treatment. Jess Ames, AFE’s Outreach and Events Director reports that last year, Angel Flight East scheduled over 1,000 flights to ensure patients had access to medical care far from home, and also delivered COVID protective gear to healthcare workers. We could not do this without the generosity of our volunteer pilots. These men and women are the true core of AFE. If you or someone you know would benefit from AFE services, visit their website (https://angelflighteast.org/) learn more. Thanks to the mission of this organization, patients and their families can concentrate on healing and not on travel to remote medical appointments.

The votes are in! Our TOP DOCs of 2021! NKCF Update readers submitted stories about their doctor as part of our annual celebration honoring eye doctors. NKCF selects one optometrist and ophthalmologist to represent the entire group of nominees. Introducing the Top Docs of 2021: Dr. Tiffany Gates, OD of Visionary Eyecare in Broomfield, CO and Dr. David Hardten, MD, co-founder of Minnesota Eye Consultants. National Keratoconus Foundation is pleased to recognize these two outs...tanding doctors as the Top Docs of 2021. To read more, and to view the full list of the other 45 doctors from 26 other states who were nominated, click here: https://nkcf.org/top-docs-of-2021/

What is your KC IQ? In order to create a successful treatment plan, individuals with KC and their doctors must be able to communicate. A 2018 article in the medical journal Cornea observed "patients with... keratoconus may feel they are not receiving attention and care to the level they feel the severity of their condition requires". Patients complain their eye doctors do not fully explain their condition or hear their concerns. Eyecare professionals maintain they describe the risk factors, symptoms and treatment options, and answer patient questions. Is anyone listening? Click the link below to read more: https://nkcf.org/what-is-your-kc-iq/

Did you miss our latest webinar "The SCOPE (Scleral Lenses in Current Ophthalmic Evaluation) Survey"? Dr. Muriel Schornack, OD from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN discusses the SCOPE study review and provides insightful answers to patient questions. You can view a recording here!... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYe4qMYFpW4 See more

NKCF invites you to tune in for a patient webinar: "The SCOPE (Scleral lenses in Current Ophthalmic Evaluation) Survey" on January 12, 2021 / 5:00 PM Pacific Time Join speaker, Dr. Muriel Schornack, OD, FAAO Assistant Professor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN on January 12, 2021. Dr. Schornack is a noted clinician and researcher. She will present observations about contact lens options for treatment of keratoconus. Learn more about the doctors who prescribe scleral l...enses and the patients who wear them. This webinar will be moderated by Dr. Jason Marsack, PhD, of the University of Houston College of Optometry research faculty. Click the link to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist/6843908339621247503 Space is limited. If you are unable to attend the live viewing, a recording will be posted on the nkcf.org website in the days following the broadcast.

Keratoconus: So You Think You Need CXL

When it comes to keratoconus (KC), the last thing you want to deal with is insurance issues. Many individuals often find themselves facing denials for either crosslinking (CXL) or contact lenses, both of which can cause serious financial setbacks. In hopes of alleviating some of your stress, we have put together this toolkit to help you navigate through any insurance issues you may be experiencing.

Since crosslinking (CXL) was approved by the FDA in 2016, many individuals with KC have been encouraged to consider this treatment. While doctors are quick to point out that CXL is not a cure, in the majority of instances, disease progression halts and the resulting vision is no worse than it is on the day of surgery. For those who fear a lifetime of ongoing vision impairment, CXL is a welcome relief. Dr. Annie Nguyen MD , cornea specialist and Assistant Professor at the USC/Roski Eye Institute, has seen the value of CXL to her patients.

Happy Thanksgiving!