Keratoconus journeys
Everyone has a story. Find some inspirational ones here.
You may come across someone’s story you can identify with—or someone whose experience is very different. Community is made up of many kinds of people and many distinctive stories. Now that you’re here, read on for insights, encouragement, and relatable content.

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Keratoconus Journey: Eric
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: Eric“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…
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Keratoconus Journey: Beverley
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: BeverleyMost 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…
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Keratoconus Journey: Jack
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: JackGrowing 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…
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Keratoconus Journey: Nate
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: NateNate 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…
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Keratoconus Journey: Cameron
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: CameronWith 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…
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Keratoconus Journey: J’Shawn
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: J’ShawnEven 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…
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Emily’s Keratoconus Journey, Part 2: After iLink®
Read more: Emily’s Keratoconus Journey, Part 2: After iLink®Having struggled with vision issues since she was in the eighth grade, Emily eventually learned that she was living with progressive keratoconus. Emily’s eye disease began to impact her work as a first-grade teacher when she experienced debilitating headaches that interfered with her ability to read books to her students and she struggled to see her coworkers’ and…
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Emily’s Keratoconus Journey, Part 1: Before iLink®
Read more: Emily’s Keratoconus Journey, Part 1: Before iLink®When Emily was in the eighth grade, she noticed that it was difficult for her to see the whiteboard during class. After visiting an eye doctor, Emily was given glasses and sent on her way. At the time, Emily had no idea that this was only the beginning of a long road filled with vision…
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Keratoconus Journey: Aaron
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: AaronAn Unexpected Turn Aaron was an active teen growing up. He participated in many sports despite wearing thick glasses to see clearly. As a high school varsity football player, Aaron’s teammates often teased him for his poor vision– specifically his troubles locating the ball on the field. Despite his love of football, his eyesight often…
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Keratoconus Journey: Dione
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: DioneDione had been living in a “haze” of blurry vision since she was 18 years old. She tried a variety of contact lenses hoping they would help her to see better. However, it wasn’t until 2011, when she received an unexpected diagnosis, that she realized she would need more than just lenses to treat her…
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Keratoconus Journey: Trayci
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: TrayciGrowing up, Trayci didn’t know a life without contacts or glasses, so when she had the option to receive Lasik, she took it. However, 14 years after receiving the procedure, she once again found her vision declining. Soon after, she was shocked to learn she was living with a progressive vision condition. Life’s Unexpected Turn…
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Keratoconus Journey: Joe
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: JoeWhen Joe was a teenager, he began wearing disposable contact lenses to help improve his vision. Nearly two decades later, after entering the workforce and traveling the world, Joe moved to the Tampa, Florida area with his wife and began looking for a new eye doctor. When he found one, it led him down a path…
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Keratoconus Journey: Casey
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: CaseyCasey noticed his vision was blurry at just 15 years old. An initial diagnosis determined he had a cataract, but after undergoing the recommended corrective surgery, his vision only continued to decline. A second opinion found that he was in fact living with keratoconus. Learning to Cope After an unsuccessful cataract surgery in 10th grade,…
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Keratoconus Journey: Jackson
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: JacksonJackson has had a rocky relationship with his vision for years. He tried his best to adapt to his declining vision, and even got his first pair of glasses, however his vision only continued to worsen. After struggling for over a decade, Jackson finally learned what was causing his vision issues: keratoconus. Disrupting His Livelihood…
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Keratoconus Journey: Chris H.
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: Chris H.Since he was a young boy, Chris’ life has revolved around baseball. But when he started to have difficulty seeing and was forced to hang up his glove, he began looking for solutions to strikeout his vision challenges. By his early 20s, Chris had given up hope on a future baseball career. His trouble visually tracking…
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Keratoconus Journey: Diana
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: DianaAt 14 years old, Diana found herself squinting to see the board at school and while watching television in the comfort of her own home. Her family saw she was struggling to see so they made an appointment at a local eye doctor to find out what was wrong with her eyes. At that time,…
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Health is His Wealth: Ryan’s Unexpected Journey With Progressive Keratoconus
Read more: Health is His Wealth: Ryan’s Unexpected Journey With Progressive KeratoconusRyan Murphy is a 26-year-old college graduate of California State University, Northridge who lives by the motto, “health is wealth”. He is passionate about health and fitness and enjoys spending time outdoors with friends. However, an unexpected vision challenge threatened Ryan’s healthy and active lifestyle. After noticing he was struggling to see clearly when driving at night…
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Keratoconus Journey: Nishi
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: NishiAn Unusual College Experience Going to college is a big transition for any teenager. The first year is typically filled with new feelings, challenges and opportunities that shape the kind of adult you will eventually become. But for Nishi, dealing with a keratoconus diagnosis was a challenge she hadn’t expected. Growing up Nishi had 20/20…
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Keratoconus Journey: Bekah
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: BekahRoad to Self-Advocacy Bekah went to her local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) near Austin, Texas, to renew her expiring driver’s license, but she didn’t expect what would happen next. A 36-year-old mother of four, Bekah had never experienced any vision issues and initially believed the news that she had failed the vision portion of…
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Keratonconus Journey: Max
Read more: Keratonconus Journey: Max“Just” a Routine Visit to the Eye Doctor Max was just a typical 15-year-old from Columbus, Ohio when his eye health changed forever. It started with a routine optometrist visit with his older sister, Morgan, to pick up a new prescription for contact lenses. During his eye exam, the doctor became concerned that the shape…
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Keratoconus Journey: Kenny
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: KennyAt the age of 32, Kenny’s optometrist told him his vision was rapidly deteriorating, but his fear of eye drops, contacts, and medical procedures stopped him from visiting a specialist he was referred to who would ultimately diagnose him with a progressive eye condition. Initial Suspicions When Kenny was 12 years old, his optometrist presented…
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Keratoconus Journey: Shanice
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: ShaniceA Glaring Interruption Growing up, Shanice was a talented athlete who dreamed of competing at the highest level of sports. In high school she was a standout player, eventually winning a scholarship to play division one college basketball for four years. After a strong college career, she was offered a chance to play professionally in…
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John’s “Crazy” Keratoconus Journey
Read more: John’s “Crazy” Keratoconus JourneyEver since he was a young boy, John, now 26 years old, has always loved making people smile. As he got older, it brought him such joy to make others happy that he decided to make a career out of it. John, who has progressive keratoconus and Down syndrome, teamed up with his father, Mark,…
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Keratoconus Journey: Luke
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: LukeLuke’s journey began at a young age. In 2nd grade, he started complaining of general vision issues, including blurry and double vision. That was when his mom took him to a Walmart Vision Center, where an optometrist fitted Luke with glasses to help him see. In 4th grade, after his family moved to southeast Michigan, they suspected…
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Keratoconus Journey: Louis
Read more: Keratoconus Journey: LouisAs a young high school student, life can bring many challenges – whether it be schoolwork, sports, or friendships. While most teens are navigating through their adolescence and growing pains, others – like Louis – are discovering they are also living with a progressive eye condition. Unexpected Challenges When Louis was 15 years old and…