Clear vision starts with a healthy cornea—the transparent front part of the eye that helps focus light and shapes how we see the world. But for patients with keratoconus, the cornea becomes weak and irregularly shaped, leading to blurred and distorted vision that worsens over time. This progressive eye condition often develops in young adults and can significantly impact daily life if left untreated.
Fortunately, modern eye care has advanced with a treatment called Corneal Crosslinking, which can help stop keratoconus from progressing and protect vision for the long term. At Pendleton Eye Center, our specialists, including Dr. Carla Berkowitz, offer this innovative procedure to strengthen and stabilize the cornea, helping patients preserve their sight and avoid more invasive treatments in the future.
Understanding Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that affects the cornea—the clear, dome-shaped surface at the front of your eye that helps focus light. In healthy eyes, the cornea maintains a smooth and rounded shape. However, in patients with keratoconus, the cornea gradually thins and bulges outward into a cone-like shape. This irregular shape distorts vision, causing blurriness, glare, and increased light sensitivity.
According to Dr. Carla Berkowitz, ophthalmologist at Pendleton Eye Center,
“Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea, which is the front part of the eye, thins and protrudes. This condition is often diagnosed in adolescents or early adulthood, and it can progress over time. One of the big risk factors is eye rubbing, so I counsel my patients never to rub the eye. We can manage things like ocular allergies to help prevent eye rubbing.”
Keratoconus usually starts during the teenage years or early twenties and may worsen gradually for several years. As the cornea continues to thin, patients often find that glasses no longer provide clear vision, and they may need to switch to specialty contact lenses or consider surgical options.
What Causes Keratoconus?
While the exact cause of keratoconus isn’t fully understood, it’s believed to involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and biochemical factors. People with a family history of keratoconus or chronic eye irritation are more likely to develop the condition.
Eye rubbing is one of the most common triggers for progression. Patients with allergies or dry eye syndrome are at higher risk because irritation often leads to excessive rubbing. At Pendleton Eye Center, we help patients identify and manage these risk factors early to protect their corneal health and vision.
What Is Corneal Crosslinking?
Corneal Crosslinking (CXL) is a revolutionary treatment designed to stop the progression of keratoconus by strengthening the cornea. The goal of crosslinking is not to restore the cornea’s original shape but to stabilize it—preventing further bulging and preserving vision.
The procedure works by applying special riboflavin (vitamin B2) drops to the cornea, followed by controlled ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. This combination stimulates collagen fibers within the cornea to form new “crosslinks,” which act like reinforcements to make the cornea stronger and more stable.
Dr. Berkowitz emphasizes,
“The latest procedure that we have to prevent any progression is called cross-linking, which I do recommend for patients if there are any signs of progression.”
Corneal Crosslinking is performed in-office and typically takes about an hour. Most patients experience only mild discomfort for a few days after treatment, and vision gradually stabilizes as the cornea heals. While the procedure does not reverse keratoconus, it is highly effective at stopping its advancement and reducing the likelihood of needing a corneal transplant in the future.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
Keratoconus often progresses slowly, and patients might not notice major changes at first. That’s why early detection through regular eye exams is essential. Using advanced diagnostic technology, the specialists at Pendleton Eye Center can map and measure the curvature and thickness of your cornea—allowing for early intervention before vision loss becomes significant.
By diagnosing keratoconus early and recommending timely crosslinking treatment, we help patients preserve their vision and maintain their quality of life.
Personalized Care at Pendleton Eye Center
At Pendleton Eye Center, our team offers advanced treatment options for patients with keratoconus, including corneal crosslinking and specialty contact lenses designed for irregular corneas. We provide personalized care based on the severity of your condition and your vision goals.
If you’re experiencing blurry vision, frequent changes in your glasses prescription, or increased light sensitivity, it might be time to get evaluated for keratoconus. The sooner it’s diagnosed, the more options you have to protect your vision.
Schedule Your Eye Evaluation Today
Protect your vision and take control of your eye health with a comprehensive evaluation at Pendleton Eye Center. If you’ve been diagnosed with keratoconus—or suspect you might have it—our specialists can determine whether Corneal Crosslinking is right for you.
Call us today at (760) 758-2008 to schedule your eye evaluation and learn more about advanced treatments for keratoconus.
What our Patients says about us:
“Dr. Berkowitz has exceptional professional knowledge and professional competence. I was handed off to her by my previous physician specifically because of her academic proficiency and ability to take a large data set about my eye health and come to plan of action for my care.”
“I absolutely LOVE the care, attention, and comprehensive detail given to me during every visit. The office is equipped with multiple computer diagnostic machines, with trained staff providing the doctors with the factual source documents needed to make sound decisions. I have never been rushed through a procedure. My transfer from one technician to the next is measured, each tech is concerned with accuracy and associated with a warm smile and disarming casual conversation about me as an individual being special to them. Hard to accomplish when I know I am most likely the 25th person in a row they have done this exact same procedure on. I respect the effort it takes to accomplish this service standard.”
