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Keratoconus Center - Vancouver, WA

Vancouver Eye Doctor Doctors for Keratoconus

Type of Physician: Eye Doctor

What is a Eye Doctor?

A certification by the Board of Ophthalmology; practitioners provide comprehensive eye and vision care. They are trained to diagnose, monitor and medically or surgically treat all eyelid and orbital problems affecting the eye and visual pathways, and to diagnose, monitor and treat all eye and visual disorders. They often prescribe vision services (glasses and contact lenses) as well as serve as a consultant to physicians and other professionals.

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Common Name: Eye Doctor

Eye Doctor Doctors in Vancouver *

Retina Northwest
Richard F Dreyer
3305 Main St
STE 100
Vancouver, WA 98663
(503) 274-2121

Retina Northwest
Irvin L Handelman
3305 Main St
STE 100
Vancouver, WA 98663
(503) 274-2121

Retina Northwest
Colin Ma
3305 Main St
STE 100
Vancouver, WA 98663
(503) 274-2121

Retina Northwest
Mark A Peters
3305 Main St
STE 100
Vancouver, WA 98663
(503) 274-2121

Vancouver Eye Care
Richard A Bernheimer
505 NE 87th Ave
STE 100
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360) 256-3937

Vancouver Eye Care
Jay N Chapman
505 NE 87th Ave
STE 100
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360) 256-3937

Mikiko Flynn MD
Mikiko Flynn
14406 NE 20th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98686
(360) 571-3084

Crews Laser Center
Stanley L Crews
12306 SE Mill Plain Blvd
STE 100
Vancouver, WA 98684
(800) 757-3525

Lower Columbia Eye Clinic
James Hulbert
600 Triangle Ctr
STE 400
Longview, WA 98632
(360) 423-0220

Lower Columbia Eye Clinic
Timothy F Vrtiska
600 Triangle Ctr
STE 400
Longview, WA 98632
(360) 423-0220

Pacific Cataract & Laser
Paul Y Chung
2517 NE Kresky Ave
Chehalis, WA 98532
(360) 748-8632

Pacific Cataract & Laser
Robert O Ford
2517 NE Kresky Ave
Chehalis, WA 98532
(360) 748-8632

Eye Institute of Olympia Inc PC
Leonard S Seifter
300 Lilly Rd NE
STE C
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 438-2207

Vancouver, Washington

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Keratoconus

Introduction

We see through the cornea, which is the clear, central part of the front surface of the eye. Normally, the cornea has a round shape, like a ball. Sometimes, however, the structure of the cornea is just not strong enough to hold this round shape. The normal pressure inside the eye makes the cornea bulge outward like a cone. This condition is called keratoconus.

What Causes Keratoconus?

Often the cause of keratoconus is unknown. Some studies have found that keratoconus runs in families, and that it happens more often in people with certain medical conditions. But most often, there is no eye injury or disease that could explain why the eye starts to change.

Keratoconus usually begins in the teenage years, but it can also start in childhood or up to about age 30. The changes in the shape of the cornea occur slowly, usually over several years.

Someone with keratoconus will notice that vision slowly becomes distorted. The change can stop at any time, or it can continue for several years. In most people who have keratoconus, both eyes are eventually affected.

Can Keratoconus Damage Vision?

Keratoconus does not make people go blind. However, the changes to the cornea will make it impossible for the eye to focus without eyeglasses or contact lenses .

Keratoconus can be dangerous if laser vision correction surgery -- LASIK or PRK is performed on the eye.

Anyone with even a small amount of keratoconus should not have laser vision correction surgery.

How Is Keratoconus Diagnosed?

The doctor may notice some things during the examination, or the patient may mention symptoms, that could be caused by keratoconus. These include:

  • Sudden change of vision in just one e...

Recommended Reading Related to Keratoconus

Eye Care »

What is the structure of the eye?

The eyes are complex sensory organs. About 85% of the total sensory input to our brains originates from our sense of sight, while the other 15% comes from the other four senses of hearing, smell, touch, and taste. The eyes are designed to optimize vision under conditions of varying light. Their location, on the outside of the face, makes them susceptible to trauma, environmental chemicals and particles, and infectious agents. The eyelids and the position of the eye within the bony orbital cavity are the major protective mechanism for the eye.

The eye itself has the shape of a sphere measuring about 1 inch in diameter. It consists of a clear, transparent dome at the front (the cornea) that is surrounded by the white of the eyeball (the sclera). The iris of the eye is the circular, colored portion within the eye, and behind the cornea, and the pupil is the central opening within the iris. Behind the iris and pupil is the e...

Emergency Contact for Vancouver

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Vancouver Hospitals *

Southwest Washington Medical Center Memorial Campus
3400 Main St
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360)256-2000

Southwest Washington Medical Center Mother Joseph Campus
400 NE Mother Joseph Pl
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360)256-2000

Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital
2801 N Gantenbein Ave
Portland, OR 97227
(503)413-2200

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
2801 N Gantenbein Ave
Portland, OR 97227
(503)413-2200

Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center
2211 NE 139th St
Vancouver, WA 98686
(360)487-1000

Oregon State Hospital Portland
1121 NE 2nd Ave
Portland, OR 97232
(503)731-8620

Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center
1015 NW 22nd Ave
Portland, OR 97210
(503)413-7711

Providence Portland Medical Center
4805 NE Glisan St
Portland, OR 97213
(503)215-1111

Shriners Hospital for Children
3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd
Portland, OR 97239
(503)241-5090

Oregon Health & Science University Hospital
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd
Portland, OR 97239
(503)494-8311

Doernbecher Childrens Hospital at OHSU
700 SW Campus Dr
Portland, OR 97239
(503)494-8811

Portland VA Medical Center
3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd
Portland, OR 97239
(503)220-8262

Providence St Vincent Medical Center
9205 SW Barnes Rd
Portland, OR 97225
(503)216-1234

Adventist Medical Center
10123 SE Market St
Portland, OR 97216
(503)257-2500

Providence Milwaukie Hospital
10150 SE 32nd Ave
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503)513-8300

Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center
10180 SE Sunnyside Rd
Clackamas, OR 97015
(503)652-2880

Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
24800 SE Stark St
Gresham, OR 97030
(503)674-1122

Tuality Community Hospital
335 SE 8th Ave
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503)681-1111

Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center
19300 SW 65th Ave
Tualatin, OR 97062
(503)692-1212

Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center
1500 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503)656-1631

Tuality Forest Grove Hospital
1809 Maple St
Forest Grove, OR 97116
(503)357-2173

Providence Newberg Hospital
1001 Providence Dr
Newberg, OR 97132
(503)537-1555

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