Evolving Clinical Care for the Individual with Keratoconus - A Researcher’s Perspective
Jason D. Marsack PhD, FAAO, FSLS, Assistant Professor, College of Optometry, University of Houston
ABSTRACT:
When
considering
the
development
of
novel
correction
strategies
for
individuals
with
highly aberrated
eyes
(e.g.
keratoconus),
two
questions
to
consider
are:
1)
what
goal
is
the
individual
trying
to achieve
with
the
optical
correction
and
2)
what
attributes
in
an
optical
correction
will
best
allow
the individual
to
achieve
these
goals?
The
underlying
premise
that
ties
these
two
questions
together
is
that
patient
needs
vary,
and
are
not
simply
based
on
optical
or
visual
performance.
Cost,
comfort,
wear
time,
complexity
of
the
care
regimen
and
aesthetics
are
all
factors
that,
along
with
visual
and
optical
performance, play
a
role
in
the
patient’s
satisfaction
with
the
correction.
This
presentation
describes
several
research projects
related
to
the
development
of
novel
correction
strategies
for
highly
aberrated
eyes,
and
considers how
each
type
of
correction
might
meet
the
varied
needs
of
an
individual.
In
this
presentation,
keratoconus is
used
as
a
model
of
the
‘highly
aberrated
eye’,
but
individuals
experiencing
pellucid
marginal
degeneration, poor
refractive
surgery
outcomes
or
cornea
trauma
also
fit
in
this
category.
This
presentation
will
1) describe
how
the
level
of
optical
aberration
present
in
an
eye
is
measured
and
reported;
2)
consider
the optical
consequence
of
high
levels
of
ocular
aberration
from
the
patient’s
point
of
view;
3)
describe
the correction
strategies
currently
employed
in
the
clinic
when
correcting
the
highly
aberrated
eye;
4)
expose the
audience
to
novel
correction
strategies
under
development
for
the
highly
aberrated
eye,
such
as
wavefront
guided
scleral
contact
lenses,
template-based
contact
lens
corrections
and
objectively
derived
spectacle
corrections
and
5)
discuss
the
advantages/limitations
of
currently
available
corrections
and
these novel
forms
of
correction.
BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Marsack completed a PhD in Physiological Optics and Vision Science at The University of Houston, College of Optometry, where he is currently a member of the faculty. His research interests include optical aberration of the eye, custom and pseudo-custom correction of optical aberration, measurement of visual performance, optically-based metrics predictive of visual performance, custom scleral contact lenses and objectively optimized spectacle lenses. He and his collaborators are currently focused on developing novel approaches for improving visual performance for individuals suffering corneal conditions that result in reduced vision (e.g. keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, poor refractive surgery outcomes and ocular trauma). Several of these approaches will be presented during this seminar.