Keratoconus Journey: Kelsey
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.
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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.