Sinclair had always had 20/20 vision. She was born with Down Syndrome, so staying on top of any emerging health concerns, including eye conditions was imperative. She visited an eye doctor regularly to make sure of this. This made it all the more shocking and frustrating to learn that at age 23 she had been living with keratoconus for three years.
Unfortunately, individuals with Down Syndrome are up to 30% more likely to develop keratoconus than the average person.1,2 It’s one of many health conditions the Down Syndrome community has to be on the lookout for so that they can be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. While functional eyesight is highly valuable for everyone, the idea of losing this sense bears extra weight when it comes to those who live with an intellectual disability. The impact of vision loss on Sinclair’s life would be devastating, so she and her mom knew they needed to seek out treatment immediately.
Keratoconus is a progressive disease, which means that if left untreated it can continue to get worse and affect vision. This is why regular eye exams are essential for early detection and treatment. Timely diagnosis of keratoconus can prevent vision loss and improve overall quality of life for everyone, especially those living with intellectual disabilities.
Unfortunately, Sinclair’s diagnosis came at an inconvenient time: the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This made the path toward treatment a little bit trickier, but Sinclair and her family were not discouraged. Her mother, Kim, even resorted to looking up fax numbers and faxing different doctors’ offices pictures of Sinclair daily until she finally received a call back.
The search was also complicated by the fact that Sinclair and her mom only felt comfortable looking for a doctor who offered iLink, FDA-approved cross-linking for progressive keratoconus, under anesthesia. The first doctor they met told her she would need to train herself to keep her eyes open and not blink, which seemed like an impossible task.
Then came the call from Dr. Maanasa Indaram at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Sinclair and her mother said they immediately felt comfortable with Dr. Indaram and scheduled her iLink procedures right away, taking place in December 2020 for her left eye and February 2021 for her right. “She made me feel comfortable”,” Sinclair said. “[During the procedure,] she even played my favorite soundtrack to help me stay calm, the Disney Descendents soundtrack.”
Since her iLink procedures, Sinclair has seen a significant improvement in her quality of life and is back to doing the things she loves. She works at a bridal shop, where she helps brides pick out beautiful dresses every day. She also takes part in public speaking engagements where she educates elementary students about Down Syndrome.
“I like to bring marshmallows to the class so that the audience can put them in their mouths and try to talk. That’s what talking with Down Syndrome feels like,” Sinclair says. “I want to be able to show them how different my life is than theirs, but at the end of the day, I want them to see that I still love being me.”
Community is a huge part of Sinclair’s life. In 2015, she and her mom founded a local yogurt shop that only employed people with intellectual disabilities. It was a wonderful place for employees to come learn marketable skills and work together to create a warm environment that the neighborhood loved.
On top of working directly in her community, Sinclair is also very active in the Down Syndrome advocacy community, regularly attending conferences and events like the National Down Syndrome Congress. Since her keratoconus diagnosis, Sinclair and her mom say that the resources made available to them through the connected Down Syndrome community allowed them to find the treatment they needed, but there is always room to speak up. “I wish I had known how prevalent of an issue this could be for Sinclair,” said Kim. “Sinclair and I tell everyone we can about her diagnosis and journey through treatment, and I hope we can encourage even one person to learn more about it and take proactive steps toward early diagnosis.”
We connected with Sinclair and her mom to discuss her experience with progressive keratoconus and how iLink® has helped her halt the progression of the disease. Watch the full video below to learn more!
Find a Cross-Linking Doctor Near You
The results described on this site are based on data collected regarding short- and intermediate-term efficacy of treatment. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.
- Alio, J. L., Vega-Estrada, A., Sanz, P., Osman, A. A., Kamal, A. M., Mamoon, A., & Soliman, H. (2018). Corneal morphologic characteristics in patients with down syndrome. JAMA Ophthalmology, 136(9), 971. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.2373 ↩︎
- Kristianslund, O., & Drolsum, L. (2021). Prevalence of keratoconus in persons with Down Syndrome: A Review. BMJ Open Ophthalmology, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjophth-2021-000754 ↩︎
Kelsey grew up in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul, as the oldest of six siblings. Her mother had always been a strong advocate for eye health and ensured that Kelsey and her siblings had regular comprehensive eye exams throughout their childhood and into adulthood. Her mother’s diligence would prove invaluable when, as a sophomore at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Kelsey was diagnosed with keratoconus (KC) at 19 years old.
At the time of her diagnosis, corneal cross-linking to treat progressive keratoconus was still in clinical trials in the U.S., leaving Kelsey with limited options. While she weighed her options, Kelsey managed her condition with prescription glasses and scleral lenses, rigid contact lenses meant to temper the cone-shaping effects of KC, though she found them very uncomfortable and hated wearing them. While her vision impairment remained mild into her early 20s, her left eye worsened faster, prompting her doctor to closely monitor for keratoconus progression.
After earning her degree in Journalism and Strategic Communication, Kelsey moved to Chicago for graduate school at DePaul University, where she obtained a master’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising. Though she originally planned to stay in Chicago for just two years, she fell in love with the city and remained for six years. In 2021, after a year of navigating the pandemic, Kelsey decided to move back to Minnesota to be closer to family and friends and found a job in marketing.
By the time she reached her mid-20s, Kelsey noticed her vision deteriorating more noticeably, particularly at night and while driving. Shortly after starting her new marketing role at Minnesota Eye Consultants (MEC) in April 2021, she learned her keratoconus had progressed significantly. Luckily, she had access to resources at MEC that allowed her to dive deeper into the lesser-known condition. Kelsey spent time reading brochures, flyers and other materials to educate herself on the treatment options for KC. The idea of undergoing corneal cross-linking had always lingered in her mind, but she hesitated due to some uncertainty about the recovery process and questions about cost and insurance coverage. However, with her vision continuing to worsen, she knew she needed to act quickly.In 2022, Kelsey was able to move forward with treatment, undergoing iLink cross-linking on her left eye in May and her right eye in August. The most inconvenient part? “I didn’t wear eye makeup to the office for about two weeks,” she jokes.
Following the procedures, her prescription changed slightly and she was able to transition from the hard scleral lenses to soft contact lenses, which made daily life much easier and more comfortable. With her new corrective lenses, Kelsey noticed improvements in her vision, particularly in her left eye. Cross-linking offered her the opportunity to reduce her dependence on scleral lenses, which ultimately motivated her decision to move forward with the iLink procedure. Unlike many keratoconus patients, Kelsey had never rubbed her eyes excessively, and there was no known family history of the condition – even amongst her siblings. Despite this, she encourages her siblings to continue to get their eyes checked regularly, knowing the critical importance of early detection.
Now working as an Account Supervisor at a public relations agency, Kelsey continues to advocate for eye health awareness. 2024 was a milestone year for her—not only did she get married in a formal black-tie wedding with all five of her brothers serving as ushers, later that year, she and her husband had a picture-perfect honeymoon in Maui. The couple is excited for their next chapter and looks forward to closing on their new home in April 2025, where they’ll settle in with their mini-goldendoodle, Vinny.
Kelsey is passionate about raising awareness for keratoconus and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, and she hopes to use her experience to help others navigate their own KC journeys. Through her story, she wants to highlight the importance of eye health advocacy—whether for yourself or your loved ones. “Had my mom not been so proactive, who knows how much worse my vision could have been before I got diagnosed?” she says. By sharing her experience, Kelsey hopes to encourage others to take charge of their eye health and schedule routine eye exams.
Find a Cornea Cross-Linking Specialist Near You:
The results described on this site are based on data collected regarding short- and intermediate-term efficacy of treatment. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.
“Ker-uh-toh what?” That’s usually the response from patients when they are first diagnosed with keratoconus or KC, a progressive eye disease characterized by a cone-like shape of the cornea that distorts vision. But Eric Lueke knew almost as much about KC as the ophthalmologists at Fichte, Endl & Elmer Eyecare in Amherst, NY where he works as an ophthalmic technician.
Diagnosed in early 2024 and treated in April of that year, Eric has a unique story, especially since one of his responsibilities at the practice is to counsel patients who are diagnosed with KC and help them understand their recommended treatment, including iLink®, the first and only FDA-approved corneal cross-linking procedure that slows or halts the progression of KC.
As an ophthalmic technician, Eric describes himself as a “jack of all trades”. He has worked at the practice for about 20 years. He is involved in everything from patient triage and counseling to back-end support with insurance, IT, transcribing, billing, and even maintenance – really anything that needs to be done to assist the medical and administrative teams. Because he has been fully immersed in the practice, Eric has an extensive background in patient service, guiding procedures, recovery instructions and paperwork. With his experience, he has developed a solid understanding of KC and is very familiar with the iLink cross-linking procedure. His knowledge proved advantageous when he noticed his vision deteriorating with regular corneal topography exams that had become a routine part of his job.
“I thought I might have an astigmatism, so I did some eye mapping. This was not as obvious in 2020 during the pandemic, but I noticed my eyeglasses prescription changing whenever I conducted training and took images of my cornea,” Eric said. “Based on what I had observed at the practice and through my unique access to testing equipment and a series of images of my eyes on file, I told Dr. Michael Endl, ’I think I have keratoconus’ and he confirmed it.”
Dr. Endl recommended that Eric receive iLink to slow or stop the progression of his KC and scheduled the procedure on Eric’s left eye. Eric does have KC in his right eye as well, although it appears to be stable at this time.
“I know what this procedure involves, and I trust all of the doctors I work with, so I was excited to have iLink done,” Eric said.
After the procedure, Eric said he was surprised that it was not more uncomfortable during, immediately after, and in the days and weeks that followed. With his experience talking to patients and counseling them after treatment, he recognizes treatment and recovery may be different for every patient. Fortunately for Eric, he was able to go back to work the very next day. “Because of where I work, I was able to check my progress daily through AR testing, vision checks, and with corneal topography, and every day I was doing well with no discomfort.”
“For me, it was fun – learning about and undergoing the iLink procedure from a patient’s perspective. I can now share first-hand what it was like,” he added.
Outside of work, Eric is a self-proclaimed life-long learner. He reads upwards of 50 books a year on a variety of subjects, loves history, and plays sports – from hockey, college football, soccer, and karate to disc golf, cycling, and camping. These hobbies motivated him to have the iLink procedure to slow or halt the progression of keratoconus and preserve his vision.
Eric explained that when he counsels keratoconus patients and answers questions, he can now add his personal experience. “It’s another tool in my toolbelt.”
Find a Cross-Linking Doctor Near You
The results described on this site are based on data collected regarding short- and intermediate-term efficacy of treatment. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.
Most consumers are familiar with LASIK as an eye surgery used to correct vision so glasses or contact lenses are no longer necessary. Beverley Annan, a human resources professional who also enjoys playing sports, went to see her eye doctor in 2012 to see if LASIK was an option for her – not only so she could stop wearing glasses, but to hopefully resolve the vision problems she’d been experiencing for many years. Growing up in her native Ghana, West Africa, Beverley could not see the chalkboard at school, so she had to move to the front of the class. She was hopeful that her eye doctor would be able to determine why she always saw things differently from those around her or felt like she was seeing out of four eyes instead of two. Unfortunately, at the appointment, she was told that LASIK was not an option because her cornea was too thin.
The possibility of common astigmatism was there as that had been the recurring diagnosis since 2013, even when she moved to Piermont, New York, Greensboro, North Carolina, and now Kansas City, Missouri. She was given a new eyeglasses prescription each time, which didn’t improve her vision. In 2014, after hearing that nothing had ever made a difference in her patient’s vision, Beverley’s doctor did a topography test to chart the landscape of the cornea, which showed without a doubt that Beverley had keratoconus (KC). This explained why she could not have LASIK surgery – as a weakening or thinning of the cornea is a telltale sign of KC.
While she experienced a “bumpy journey” that finally led to the KC diagnosis, Beverley now felt that a lot of things made sense – the vision challenges most of her life, the frequent changes to her eyeglass prescriptions, her family and loved ones pointing things out she simply could not see, and being told she had a thin cornea. But reality set in that KC is a progressive disease characterized by a cone-like shape of the cornea that distorts vision, so she needed to act quickly. Her eye doctor in Kansas City suggested scleral contact lenses that are hard and shaped to accommodate the cornea, but Beverley was terrified about putting something in her eyes every day.
Several years and a move to Nashville later, another eye test was conducted that showed Beverley’s vision was getting worse, and this time the doctor recommended iLink®, the first and only FDA-approved corneal cross-linking procedure that slows or halts the progression of KC. Beverley learned about the procedure and how it would strengthen and stiffen the cornea in both eyes – starting with her left eye which was worse, and then the right. She also learned that she would need to wear scleral lenses after all to help her see better.
The iLink cross-linking procedure involves removing the epithelial layer of the cornea and applying prescription eye drops and UV light; being educated about each step was something Beverley needed to feel as comfortable as possible. She worked with a therapist to prepare for being awake during the procedure, learned some breathing exercises, and put together a playlist to listen to as a distraction that included “every song that can make you feel stronger from Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Kojo Antwi, Guns and Roses, with one or two gospel songs sprinkled in.” Beverley also added music that people she loves like to listen to for additional strength and inspiration.
Now that she has had the iLink procedure in both eyes and is wearing her scleral contact lenses, Beverley’s vision is much better. Considering what she experienced over decades, her advice is this:
- For parents, listen to your children when they say they are having trouble seeing. Ask specifically what they see rather than dismissing it as something else – the sooner the better.
- For people experiencing vision problems, make sure both eyes are checked regularly. I would recommend checking each eye separately and to know that one eye may be adjusting or overcompensating for the other eye.
- Don’t rub your eyes. A major contributor to KC is eye rubbing. It’s a natural thing that people do without thinking. Understand the root cause of why you want to rub your eyes, such as fatigue, eye strain, allergies, or something else, and find a way to stop rubbing your eyes.
- If you frequently change your eyeglass prescription or you don’t notice the difference between two lenses, ask your eye doctor about KC and request a topography test. KC is a progressive disease, so it must be diagnosed and treated early.
- Do whatever you need to do to feel confident about the iLink cross-linking procedure. I carefully researched eye doctors, understood about the treatment, and prepared ahead to ensure my comfort before, during, and after the procedure.
Looking back, Beverley spent years not knowing what she could not see and emphasizes now how proper vision has made a huge difference in her life.
Find a Cross-Linking Doctor Near You
The results described on this site are based on data collected regarding short- and intermediate-term efficacy of treatment. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.
Some people say things happen for you, not to you. This is what Jack learned when he found out he was living with progressive keratoconus. After his diagnosis and treatment with the iLink® FDA-approved cross-linking procedure, Jack decided to pursue a career that specializes in diagnosing and treating keratoconus. Today, as Jack enters his third year of optometry school at Indiana University (IU), he is continuing to learn about keratoconus and hopes to one day educate his patients about this progressive disease and the available treatment options.
Witnessing the Changes
Growing up in Chicago, Jack loved baseball. He began playing at a young age and continued to play throughout high school. Jack’s passion for the game was undeniable, but he quickly realized his ability to hit the ball was declining as he was struggling to see clearly. Realizing his eyesight was becoming a problem, Jack visited the eye doctor and was prescribed glasses. However, he only wore the glasses on occasion in class to help him see the board.
Despite his vision issues, Jack graduated high school and was accepted into Indiana University School of Optometry. Jack was excited to pursue his passion and dive into his studies, but there was one issue: his vision was worsening. He went from periodically using his glasses to now relying heavily on them to see the board. During class one day, Jack was scheduled to have a retinoscopy done by another student. The student performing the exam was having difficulty getting a good read on Jack’s eye and alerted the professor realizing that something might be wrong. As the professor took a closer look, they realized that Jack may have keratoconus and recommended he see an eye doctor for a comprehensive exam.
A Sudden Discovery
Not thinking much of it, Jack visited Dr. Katie Connolly at the Atwater Eyecare Center, IU’s own optometric clinic. There, he was diagnosed with progressive keratoconus. Jack shared this unexpected news with his family and was shocked to discover that his father was also living with the disease. After connecting the dots and researching more about keratoconus, Jack and his family learned that keratoconus could have a genetic association.
Following his diagnosis, Jack was deeply concerned that his keratoconus would jeopardize his optometry career. Fortunately, he was referred to Dr. Nathan Morrow of Indiana Eye Surgeons who was able to come up with a treatment plan for Jack. He suggested that Jack receive the iLink® FDA-approved cross-linking procedure to slow or halt the progression of his keratoconus and help preserve his vision. Being an optometry student and taking great interest in the subject, Jack did his research and decided that the FDA-approved procedure was the best option for him. Learning more about cross-linking calmed Jack’s nerves and gave him hope for his future! In November 2020, Jack’s left eye was treated.
Finding Inspiration
Moving forward, Jack is continuing his education at IU as an optometry student. To further his keratoconus knowledge, he attends speeches and webinars with physicians that are diagnosing and treating the disease. Through his curiosity and eagerness to learn more, he has made connections with physicians that understand the importance of early detection and treatment when it comes to keratoconus. Jack feels more comfortable and confident with his studies as he can continue to wear soft lenses or keep his glasses on hand if he needs them. He is looking forward to one day being able to diagnose and treat patients of his own. Jack is hopeful that his patients will feel a sense of relief and trust knowing that their physician has firsthand experience with keratoconus and treatment with the iLink® FDA-approved cross-linking procedure.
Find a Cross-Linking Doctor Near You
The results described on this site are based on data collected regarding short- and intermediate-term efficacy of treatment. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.
Nate Pasell was just 22 years old when he began experiencing symptoms of keratoconus (KC). He had lived all his life with 20/20 vision, then suddenly he had double, and blurry vision coupled with sporadic headaches. Once the symptoms began impacting his work, he knew it was time to see his eye doctor. Nate was working as a contractor for the Department of Defense and his blurred vision was impacting his ability to do his job. He was hoping to be prescribed glasses or contact lenses to correct the problem, but, unfortunately, none of the lenses he tried helped. His doctor then mentioned the possibility that his vision problems could be caused by KC.
A corneal specialist quickly confirmed Nate’s diagnosis of progressive keratoconus and recommended moving forward with iLink®, the first and only FDA-approved corneal cross-linking procedure that slows or halts the progression of KC and helps preserve vision. However, Nate had to wait over a year for his procedure, which led to the rapid deterioration of the vision in his right eye and eventually the almost complete inability to see from that eye.
“It creeps up on you,” Nate says about his KC progression. “But then you notice it and you just watch your vision rapidly deteriorate.”
In the year before his iLink procedure, Nate connected with a Glaukos Patient Services (GPS) representative. GPS is an individualized support program that works to advocate for KC patients in need of treatment and helps through every step of their journey, including understanding their diagnosis and treatment path as well as verifying insurance benefits. After hearing about the severity of his symptoms and how long he had been waiting for his procedure to be scheduled due to insurance delays, the GPS representative became an advocate for Nate and worked to have his iLink procedure scheduled within a month.
He was eager to undergo the procedure to try and stop the progression of KC in his right eye and he felt very prepared by both his doctor and the GPS representative he worked with. Additionally, after a year of waiting and the significant amount of vision loss he experienced, he couldn’t wait to begin healing and feeling like himself again. While Nate did experience some minor pain and discomfort, he was more pleased than he expected with how smooth and easy his iLink procedure was.
Now, Nate is not only back to work but also back to doing some of the things he loves, like golfing. His doctor continues to monitor for KC in his left eye, and Nate says he would move forward with cross-linking as quickly as possible if he were to be diagnosed with progressive KC in that eye.
Nate wants to emphasize how important prioritizing your eye health is and advocating for treatment right away. If it feels like something is wrong, he encourages those who may be suffering from symptoms of keratoconus to act quickly to prevent vision lose that may not be recovered. “Don’t wait,” he says. “Get the treatment you need and don’t let your eyes deteriorate.”
Find a Cross-Linking Doctor Near You
The results described on this site are based on data collected regarding short- and intermediate-term efficacy of treatment. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.
With symptoms like blurred vision, headaches, and excessive eye rubbing, keratoconus can easily be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, with clinicians looking to prescribe glasses or contact lenses as a logical answer to address vision-related concerns when there seems to be no other explanation.
That’s what happened to Cameron Poplin of South Carolina who at age 20 during the global pandemic suddenly experienced debilitating headaches and extremely blurred vision out of his left eye one day while getting ready for work.
He went to his optometrist and a retina specialist, but they were unable to give him a diagnosis. His impaired vision and severe headaches quickly landed him in the emergency room, but without a diagnosis, he was back to a specialist, and then a neurologist, only to be sent back to his optometrist to be fitted for glasses. Cameron’s parents wondered if his vision problem could be caused by too much screen time or stress because scans did not indicate anything physically wrong, yet he spent three months in his bedroom in total darkness – unable to use his phone, watch TV or listen to music because his headaches were so bad.
Ultimately, Cameron saw an ophthalmologist who had the proper equipment to diagnose KC in his left eye and recommended iLink®, the first and only FDA-approved corneal cross-linking procedure that slows or halts the progression of KC to preserve vision. Fortunately, Cameron’s right eye is stable, although his doctors continue to monitor it regularly for any changes. In preparation for the iLink procedure, he was educated about KC and understood that the cross-linking procedure was necessary to stiffen and strengthen the cornea to slow or halt the progression of the disease. Immediately after the procedure on his left eye, Cameron experienced minor pain and his headaches stopped. He now wears scleral contact lenses in both eyes. These specialty contact lenses are larger than traditional contact lenses with a fluid reservoir layer to help improve severe vision irregularities.
Cameron is happy to trade the fear, frustration, headaches, and vision problems for a routine that requires eye drops and carefully inserting the contact lenses in his eyes. He also discovered a special device to help insert the lenses – a magnifier and light – to ensure there are no unwanted bubbles. And to further enhance his vision, especially for reading, Cameron is able to use innovative new glasses while wearing his sclera contacts.
An avid drummer who can play with or without his scleral lenses, Cameron does deal with some minor inconveniences as a result of his KC. He does not drive, although he has been given the okay by his doctor, because night vision remains a concern. He also must wear sunglasses whenever he is outside due to light sensitivity, and he only recently learned he can swim if he wears goggles over his lenses. Without his scleral lenses, he can barely see.
When not working in the hospitality industry, Cameron is passionate about generating awareness for KC, openly discussing his condition on social media and encouraging people to ask an eye doctor to refer them to a specialist if experiencing symptoms. His advocacy also includes posts and livestreaming on TikTok where is shares tips and information about KC and other eye conditions. His goal is to promote early detection and treatment in a timely manner to prevent the vision loss he experienced.
Find a Cross-Linking Doctor Near You
The results described on this site are based on data collected regarding short- and intermediate-term efficacy of treatment. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.
Even before graduating high school, J’Shawn Gill was already an accomplished ballet and Broadway jazz dancer, starring in a music video for “This is Me” from the movie “The Greatest Showman” along with the cast of the popular TV show “Queer Eye”. His involvement led to an appearance on The Today Show and several other media interviews.
Since he was young, dance has always been J’Shawn’s passion. But his lifelong love of performing was threatened when he started noticing a rapid decline in his vision. In 2020, at age 20, he started experiencing blurred vision and headaches that led to squinting and excessive eye rubbing, with his mom noticing he was holding his phone just inches from his face to read the screen.
This went on for a few months before J’Shawn agreed to make an appointment to get his eyes checked, after a lot of convincing and pressure from his mom. They figured he likely needed to be prescribed glasses or contact lenses, however, J’Shawn’s broader long-term vision health was not on their radar at all.
After running some tests, J’Shawn was diagnosed with a progressive eye disease called keratoconus (KC) in one eye, a serious condition that affects the cornea—the surface of the eye—and can lead to significant vision loss if left untreated. His doctor promptly recommended he receive iLink®, the first and only FDA-approved corneal cross-linking procedure that slows or halts the progression of keratoconus and helps preserve vision.
Returning home from the eye doctor, J’Shawn and his mom did some research on KC and the iLink procedure, which eased some of their anxiety surrounding the diagnosis and treatment. His doctor did, however, explain that without this treatment, his vision would likely deteriorate which could lead to blindness, so for J’Shawn, it was a no-brainer to move forward with the procedure.
Thanks to the information and thorough explanations provided by his doctor beforehand, on the day of his treatment J’Shawn felt positive and calm–he was more worried about how soon he could get back to dancing than about the procedure itself. He felt very comfortable during cross-linking, and other than a slight sensitivity to light in the days after, he was back to dancing within seven days after being cleared by his doctor.
With iLink, J’Shawn was able to take control of his health and slow the progression of his disease. Today his doctors are monitoring his other eye for keratoconus progression and if necessary, J’Shawn says he will get his other eye cross-linked as soon as possible to preserve his sight and ensure he can keep on dancing. J’Shawn will be attending the University of Kansas in the fall of 2023 to study psychology, and he is grateful that his treatment will allow him to succeed at school and in all of his future endeavors.
Find a Cross-Linking Doctor Near You
The results described on this site are based on data collected regarding short- and intermediate-term efficacy of treatment. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.