Hi Friends and Family,

Recently I noticed a big decrease in my vision. I went to a specialist and was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease called Keratoconus.

Definition (from the Bochner Eye Institute’s website where i will be treated):

Keratoconus is a corneal disease that occurs when the normally round dome-shaped cornea (the clear outer area of the eye) progressively thins causing a cone-like bulge to develop. The condition is typically diagnosed during adolescence and early adulthood with a variable rate of progression.

The bulging or "cone-shaped" protrusion is caused by the normal pressure of the eye pushing out on the thinned areas of the cornea. Since the cornea is responsible for refracting most of the light coming into your eye, an abnormal-shaped cornea can create reduced visual acuity and affect the way you see. This reduced visual acuity can make even simple daily tasks, such as driving, watching television or reading, difficult to perform.

The treatment for it is called Corneal Cross Linking. This is not vision correction, but just stops the disease from progressing. I will still need glasses.

If  I do not get the treatment my eyes  will progress to a stage where I would likely require a corneal transplant. From there it could regress to blindness.

I don’t necessarily want the treatment, but I'm not a Doctor and I am going ahead with the Corneal Cross Linking treatment on the recommendation of our Optometrist, 2 Ophthalmologists and our GP. There is however a cost involved to us. We will need to pay $2700 out of our own pocket for each eye which means will have to pay $5400 total plus any additional charges in case the surgery doesn't work. 

I do not think it is right that OHIP doesn’t cover this procedure. I feel that this is certainly not elective and not dissimilar from the hundreds of other procedures that are covered.

I really want people to be aware of this condition and to help me spread the word for me an many others like me who have this illness .

Thank you so much in advance for sharing this.

Ana