Keratoconus Success Story with Advanced Scleral Lenses

This is the FULL story of 16-year-old Luke a patient with Keratoconus.
After exhausting his options with multiple other specialists, Luke traveled to us with his parents Russ and Leslie to get fitted with advanced custom sclerals. As you can tell, he is quite thrilled with his vision outcome.
In this video, Luke and his dad share some feedback including his vision history and struggle with other lenses before finding Dr. Gemoules and Laserfit scleral lenses.
Thank you, Luke, Russ, and Leslie for kindly sharing your story.
More videos and articles about the exceptional results we achieve with these custom lenses can be seen on our site:
The lenses: laserfitlens.com/
Stories of people using these lenses: laserfitlens.com/patient-stor...
These lenses achieve unprecedented vision outcomes for people with complex vision challenges such as Keratoconus or damage to the cornea from Laser Eye surgery ( LASIK) complications. Often restoring lives and giving vision to people who would not be able to function normally without them.
Please visit our website to read success stories from patients who travel from all over the world to see us in Texas. Our greatest passion is changing lives by restoring quality of vision.

[@sergiogarza1422]

people have no idea how much they take their vision for granted

[@Andreyabish]

This....

[@annekemahabeer5130]

So true. And you wont believe how peoplemake fun of me being so blind. It hurts like hell

[@jakec5618]

absolutely agree

[@tamekagillyard55]

I say this all the time!

[@noturbiz4670]

I have keratoconus, scleral lenses literally changed my life. I see as if I never had any condition in my eye and your eyes feel completely normal like nothing is there. When my doctor told me that glasses wont work for you anymore I felt scared, I felt like I was ready to accept that I will go partially blind, when I put these lenses on for the first time I felt exactly like this guy in the video. Thank you for all the researchers and doctors for changing our lives ❤️

[@zayzaybanks7237]

How noticeable are your scleral lenses in your eye. I get social anxiety wearing them because they make my eyes look unnatural

[@noturbiz4670]

@@zayzaybanks7237 Barely noticeable you have to shine bright light onto your sclera to able to see them

[@NancyLopez-wy8rt]

My husband has keratoconus, his right eye they say “has reached the max” it can be but do you think the sclera lenses will help him at all even a little bit until we can save for surgery

[@noturbiz4670]

@@NancyLopez-wy8rt I think it's best to consult with a doctor, the job of scleral lenses is to give a natural shape to the cornea, he has to get physical tests to determine if a scleral lens will be effective

[@majidverynicekhan4026]

How many years scleral lense perform well and scleral lense may be harmful for eye plzzzzzzzz tell me

[@BigButtocks967]

I was diagnosed with advanced keratoconus when I was 30, I had full thickness corneal grafts which worked but after 17 years my vision gradually got worse to the point I gave up driving and riding and at night in dim light had vitally no sight, yestaday I had my 1st appointment for mini scleral contacts and it went so well, I went from not being able to read anything on the eye chart to being able to read every line, my dr is hopeful il be able to drive again once the fitting sessions are complete and I have my custom contacts. I can’t even begin to put into words what this means to me but as an idea picture this, I’m a big hairy biker, shaved head and covered in tattoos, been a bike club member for many years, at the end of my appointment I was crying like a baby. It going to be a long 6-8 weeks until I get my contacts.

[@alonyathompson7500]

I would love to cry these tears too! Thank you for sharing

[@bashira1234]

I have keratoconus for the 26 years and been struggling with RGP lenses for a long period of time and that caused severe corneal scarring and extreme discomfort.I didnt want to go for the transplant so my doctor advised sceral lenses which worked pretty well in the first year but my vision is keep on deteriorating since.May be my keratoconus is progressing very fast.Its very hard to live with this condition.I hope and pray for everyone's health.

[@cmcgsr3243]

I feel and understand your pain I'm supposed to start driving trucks bit won't be able to pass the dot physical until my vision gets to at least 20/40 with the lense I'm now at 20/50 but my Dr ordered me another a little stronger I hope it works. It's not good news hearing when i.got diagnosed with this. Wish you the best.prayers.fpr your recovery also

[@bashira1234]

@@cmcgsr3243 Thank you for the prayers.My prayers are with u too.

[@cmcgsr3243]

@@bashira1234 thank you I appreciate it

[@mengkemary9763]

Did have cross link? It can help stop progressing of keratoconus. Maybe you should try it.

[@bashira1234]

@@mengkemary9763 I am considering this option.I will be consulting my doctor soon to see if I am a candidate for it,coz my cornea is really thin now.

[@starbeard5025]

They really are tears of joy

[@jakec5618]

restoring sight is such a great gift. thats what we need more of, true healthcare, finding ways.

[@robertr4715]

I have lived with Kertatoconus nearly 40 years. I had a hydrops in one eye at age 18. Got a transplant in that eye a few years later and my vision improved to 20/15 with contacts. My other eye is about 20/40 with RGP lenses, but still much uncorrectable astigmatism in that eye. My quality of life has been good since because I had such good vision out of the eye with the transplant (and the graft never rejected!). With all that said have had more issues with astigmatism and my contacts popping out the past few years and recently was fitted for. custom Scleral lenses at the University of Iowa Eye clinic that will work very similar to the Laser fit contacts and will be getting them next week! The prospect of 20/20 vision in both eyes without astigmatism is so exciting I can barely contain myself! I hope to have an experience similar to this young man as I had resigned myself to never seeing that well again...

[@alejandragill1355]

I’m going through this now😢

[@oceovi8583]

The struggle is reallll

[@1lifeonearth]

me too, im so sad.

[@Andreyabish]

@@1lifeonearth any luck?

[@1lifeonearth]

@@Andreyabish no not really, Ive had my 3rd fitting today for scleral lenses, and so far, they really dont work at all. Not even close to 20/20 vision in my bad eye and super annoying to use. I should re-watch this video and consider going to this texas place, but i dont wanna pay out of pocket for it. what stage are you with your keratoconus?

[@buwtii]

@@1lifeonearth have u had cross linkin ?

[@rcb2418]

I don't have keratoconous but something similar. It's called Greyson Wilbrandt. It affects botb eyes. I went for my fitting yesterday and this was my reaction. This was my reaction when I was told about Scleral lenses and this was me yesterday. I was so used to seeing hazy and a little distorted that I had not realized how bad my eyes truly were. To be able to see clear and notice every tiny detail is amazing. I agree with his dad, this is a miracle.

[@Charlei1007]

This precious baby 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@buddyrebel_Garcia]

Awesome! I just got my scleral lenses today. I can see 20/20 now! The only bad thing, they cost 600 bucks each. But totally worth it

[@unknownsource4359]

I just paid $500 each as well. Plus he fitting was another $800. Plus the appointment charge was $220. I paid over $2000 for mine.

[@josebertrand6051]

Yh I paid over 1800 for one :(

[@christinewilson7960]

I paid 1400 my insurance paid a little bit of it

[@swathiram3682]

What's the durability of scleral lenses?!

[@BigButtocks967]

I’m extremely lucky to live in the uk, all costs apart from a token payment of £57 was covered by the NHS. And yes I truly appreciate how lucky I am.

[@annekemahabeer5130]

I also burst out crying when my scleral lenses were fitted. It is so amazing to see clear. I only have 70% vision with scleral lenses but it does help. Unfortunately vision is too bad for night driving

[@NancyLopez-wy8rt]

My husband has had it untreated for 13 years , you think they would help even if it’s a little bit.

[@annekemahabeer5130]

@@NancyLopez-wy8rt o yes. The vision is fantastic. I dint have 100% vision. Max 70% vision with lenses. I just find the lenses very uncomfortable especially to the end of the day. Keep me posted

[@NancyLopez-wy8rt]

@@annekemahabeer5130 will do thanks so much

[@annekemahabeer5130]

@@NancyLopez-wy8rt 🤩

[@noufaln3259]

@@NancyLopez-wy8rt advanced stages

[@VickyRyan2018]

I cried too first time i put them on !! Awesome feeling

[@ina7389]

Everything felt so clear and shiny like I was looking through an HD camera

[@simbatingz5043]

Story of my life right now

[@brettlevin8181]

I have the same thing (Keratgoconus). They gave me gasperm lenses at first, which suck and I couldn't stick with due to discomfort. I'm hopeful Scleral lenses work for me.

[@ravenmcclaw1725]

Sadly it not worked for me :( Scleral Lenses are the future and the comfort is superb but after 5th time of changing the Lenses especially for my right eye i gave up on them. On my right eye I see not clear with the lenses, much ghostings and double or triple visions and cannot see very well at the distance. The Optometrist tried everything, he has much experience with this kind of Lenses, he told me everything and showed me everything to need to know, he fitted the lenses the best he could but yeah, that's it for me - on my right eye I've done Cross Linking and Laser eye surgery. I'm totally frustrated about it, I was hoping so much that finally I've got a solution for it :( I hope it will benefit you more.

[@brettlevin8181]

@@ravenmcclaw1725 Thanks and sorry to hear that. I have been wearing Scleral lenses for the last few weeks. I am pretty happy with them thus far. My right eye, which has a sever astigmatism, is actually correcting slightly better than my left eye, which has only a slight astigmatism. I don't know how that is possible, but I guess i'll take it.

[@cujo229]

Try hybrid contact lenses if all else fails My vision with them was the best but after cross linking surgery I could only do scleral lenses.

[@Estrelaaaaa]

To those who suffer from keratoconus and frustrated from regular or hybrid lenses... YOU SHOULD TRY SCLERAL LENSES.... Waaw!! It is so comfortable. Do not loss hope in fitting visit to your optometrist... In fitting visit it took time for me to apply it despite I have experience from hybrid lenses... My palpebral opening is small and my eyelids are a bit buffy.. However after training on how to apply the scleral lenses, it became easy Scleral lenses are very very comfortable.. You barely can feel it.. Actually it is important not to forget it for looong time or during sleep... Despite hybrid lenses which was rub my inner eyelid each time I blink.

[@JavidShah_RD]

Hello. I'm a 35 year's old Keratoconus patient. I've have Keratoconus in both eyes, one worse than the other. Since I needed to see better to do my tasks, I went to fit GP contact lenses and Scleral lenses both, but the doctors couldn't fit the right lenses for me. In fact I see the results with GP lenses and Sclerals were worse then my glasses (the result was more blurry and with multiple vision with some shades around objects). Why this happens? May I have any chance with GPs or Sclerals at all?

[@aaquibbaloch6510]

So nice good luck bro

[@DocSteelhamer]

dude i have it since 20 no i am 30 and i never knew what i have,today i found out,i hope i can be as blessed as you

[@britneygrant6791]

I'm 34 had it since 17 I'm had and legally blind in both eyes just when I was considering transplant God sent me to a cornea specialist and he told me told me to try scleral lenes. Ive had my scleral lenses for a year and I know exactly how that boy feels My vision is almost perfect my insurance did not cover them they cost $1200 but you can't put a price on vision hope this helps.God bless

[@Andreyabish]

@@britneygrant6791 wait what.... I’m 23 and I have a -2 and -4 with this. Will my vision get that bad?!!!!

[@britneygrant6791]

@@Andreyabish It's different for each person just get all the treatment You can no matter how much it costs.God bless

[@britneygrant6791]

@@Andreyabish What is -2 and -4 mean?

[@Andreyabish]

@@britneygrant6791 that’s my prescription for my eyes

[@mayank444]

I’m happy this person has benefitted from this - but I’m confused how he lived with Keratoconus for 3 years and no doctor recommended Corneal Cross Linking to stop further degeneration of his cornea? My basic optometrist told me about this procedure which is fairly common in the USA...

[@alakranzitha]

mayank444 My doctor told me that some corneas are too thin to make that procedure. I have querataconous and I only use contacts.

[@ravenmcclaw1725]

@@alakranzitha now that's bullshit, sorry to say that. Every Keratoconus patient has a thin cornea because of Keratoconus. Like me in example, I've done Cross linking 2 years ago and also my Cornea was thin, this is also the main reason for Cross linking, not only for the stability of the cornea but also for filling up the thin cornea up to a normal size. Benefit of it, you can wear contacts much more comfortable, it doesn't hurt you as bad as with thin cornea. Last year I made the special Smart surf trans prk eye laser surgery, this will reshape the cornea to its normal shape. Benefit of it, you can wear glasses, the ghosting, halos, double visions are almost gone or you can wear soft lenses or hard lenses and your vision will improve dramatically. First advice, if you have Keratoconus, immediately go to a specialist and make an appointment to do cross-linking, the sooner the better, if your Doctor says that you Cornea is to thin for the operation, then he is not the correct one to do this surgery in the first place, look for somebody else.

[@alakranzitha]

Raven McClaw Thank you I will try to do cross linking. I wear sclerals lenses and feel good about them. Yes I wish I could find a better doctor and have a better vision as well.

[@trinityford4795]

I’ve had keratoconus for over 8 years, and wasn’t properly diagnosed until 3 years ago. My doctor didn’t tell me about collagen cross linking until last year and RECOMMENDED it yesterday because I had progressed from last year (I’m only 24 and have it in 95% of my right eye). It’s very possible.

[@1lifeonearth]

@@ravenmcclaw1725 thank you for telling me this. i am so fucking depressed. i need to go to a specialist immediately.

[@alejandragill1355]

God bless him🙏🏽

[@ms1406]

I had gp contacts and they worked also but i want to try these

[@sachins4243]

I have advanced keratoconus and my night is now really worse..too sensitive to light forming of halos around the light... Iam 23 year old and i have done c3 R in both eyes ... Is scleral lenses or icl surgery is a better option for me

[@tamekagillyard55]

This was me crying when I first got mines too

[@bazik8285]

Just got the cross linking done about a month ago now I’m waiting for my appointment to get the scleral len I only have one eye with keratoconus which my doctor said it was wierd because it’s usually on both eyes I guess I got lucky

[@mrmartywaring]

Scleral lenses changed my life!!

[@Akleema222]

Apko koi problem nhi hoti lens se ..?

[@mohussain1662]

I have keratotomy’s, I was diagnosed with blepharitis than astigmatism , ive hade a corneal transplant in one eye, it has been months since the transplant, in my left eye, my vision is still pretty blurry in both eyes, it has been like this now for 6-7yrs, I wish I could see clearly again, I don’t like travelling, if there’s any help I can get in England uk, please do let me know, I heard about scleral lenses but haven’t tried them yet

[@CK-ky6ky]

My left lense broke yesterday😢

[@rubencordero2776]

How can I get that conference poster ??

[@chinanuedwardigbokwe9727]

How can one locate this clinic?

[@blahblah-js5ux]

What are scleral lenses. I currently suffer from keratoconus and wear gas permeable contacts and now, I'm actually having to wear glasses too just to drive, i mean i can drive but i can see bettt r r with glasses

[@noufaln3259]

Scleral lence good not corneal scaring

[@v65sabreking]

I need this

[@DUBDUB511]

Should I do this or intacs

[@janumayam8224]

I wear rgp lenses, i'm not that comfortable. Where can I do the laserfit procedure?

[@Laserfitlens]

Our location is in Dallas, Texas, USA

[@cmcgsr3243]

@@Laserfitlens so is the laser fit procedure better

[@sergiogarza1422]

rgps suck

[@sergiogarza1422]

I was given some but I stopped wearing them because they kept trying out and I kept having to take them out and put saline and put them back in what's the point of wearing them if you got to keep taking them out and putting saline

[@mustafajavaid7862]

Ive got keratoconus and im going to get contacts scleral lenses in 6 weeks

[@emk1911]

I have my scleral lenses for a few days now but i still see a shadow above. If i force my eyes a little bit it disappears. I study med school but I dont know if i can finish it because of my vision. Can the shadow above disappear? Is it just that the lens need to be remake? I hope you see this and help me docter its so depressing. I just want to be able to read without seeing the shadow above.

[@tubailey2459]

Em K I hope and pray for you to complete school. My son has this too. May God bless you to fulfill this dream for you and make you the best and most compassionate doctor ever.

[@Laserfitlens]

The technology is available to reduce or eliminate double images. It is called wavefront. The vision is broken down into many different components, not just defocus and astigmatism. For keratoconus it is mostly due to something called COMA. The Laserfit process embeds this correction in the lens prescription using a proprietary process. This is how Luke was able to have 20/20 vision with a Laserfit lens but not with a standard lens.

[@cmcgsr3243]

I feel your pain.i.cant get my CDL until I can pass the dot eye physical portion. I have to be able to see 20/40 right now I'm 20/50 but still a fuzzy blure.it sucks not being able to pursue my career and it's on hold until I get this fixed.today is my first day wearing the GP lense which so far is comfortable but still doesn't help toward my CDL.yet.all I can do is give it to god to guide me in the right direction even if it requires a different procedure.prayers going out to everyone

[@naima19]

My eye is in the scratch stage I had this all my life now I need heavy eye contacts

[@brittianahenderson6798]

Where’s doctor g at I need him

[@manshashabir5188]

I hope I can get these lenses 😭

[@davidtimmreck9871]

Is this the only place to get these advanced scleral contact lenses? I'm 29, have had Keratoconus since I was 16 and I want to do something about it.

[@unvcht5046]

Where do you live

[@tupikahielos4758]

I also have kc, had IT since I was 8 today I'm 30..I wear a hard contact lense on my right eye, got fitted un Tijuana México

[@unvcht5046]

B. Barajas is it cheaper there? How much is Sclarel contact lenses

[@Kaprinko]

@@tupikahielos4758 will you be wearing that contact lenses for the rest of your life?

[@tupikahielos4758]

@@unvcht5046 I paid around 300 u.s dóllars for each hard contact lense..I don't know about the scleral lense

[@adnanjirdo6438]

Hello dear doctor, i did two operations which are cornea cross-linking, evev glass my vesion vrey bad and i sometimes wear the RGP lenses with the my vesion become good but, i feel unconfortable and my eyes usually become red and also have pain, so what is the best solution for me to manage my college of dentistry?

[@mattmoraes1841]

How much are the laser fit lens? Of course not covered by insurances. So your looking at probably 4,000 every 2 years.

[@Maurice419]

Yup, keratoconus sucks ass! Glad to see you have had some success. I am 54 and am now going to try Scleral Lenses.

[@anyraj5184]

Before that how you managed. Now only going for scleral lenses????

[@nishidhpatel2786]

Can you please provide detail about lenses? Is it removable or permanent fit?

[@anyraj5184]

Removable as normal RGP lens.

[@beckjohn2309]

@@anyraj5184 so are these scleral lenses???

[@anyraj5184]

@@beckjohn2309 Yes

[@frankopanklaric]

The good thing is he can see everything. The bad thing is he can see EVERYTHING.

[@adorekatrina]

omg I have the same condition

[@Phaseish]

I just got sclearl lesnses for my right eye and It's been 2 days and 1.4k and I sitll can't see shit.

[@josemagelanrizal8497]

Approximate cost per pair of schleral contact lens?

[@buddyrebel_Garcia]

Mine were 600 each eye. So 1200 depending on location.

[@jilliantuazon666]

@@buddyrebel_Garcia is this in $?

[@buddyrebel_Garcia]

Jillian Tuazon yes $600 per eye⛈

[@jilliantuazon666]

@@buddyrebel_Garcia thanks

[@KaliBoyinPDX]

Mine were $500 each.

[@lexxro87]

Somehow i dont get it, when he went to so much Keratoconus Specialsts, why don´t they recommended a Surgery? I´m glad i´m not living in the US, medical healthcare is from a 3 World country to be honest. He should do the Athens Protocol and his eyesight is after that better then ever, still happy for him, having the same issue but this surgery saved my eyesight to get worser. At the moment the Holy Grail of defeating Keratoconus is the Athens Protocol.

[@cujo229]

If you haven't yet get corneal cross linking surgery. If I would have been able to get it in 2000 when I was first diagnosed I wouldn't be blind without scleral lenses.

[@cujo229]

@no no no not as good as hybrid contact lenses cause my vision went really bad due to keratoconus. I need reading glasses. Left eye is 20/20 and right eye is 20/30 with scleral lenses. The quicker you can do cross linking surgery to stabilize the better. And now there is epi on cross linking and recovery is 4 days

[@shobhamoksha469]

anybody here can u guys giv me the information on cost range of scleral l enses

[@SuperNizZzz]

It can vary from 80k to 90k for both eyes.

[@animelove263]

I have keratoconus what I do now

[@ashredjoul5984]

Lens are very bad hard to wear its torture this is a joke wear glasses

[@Libbidybibbidy]

Keratoconus sucks man I freaking hate it. As a truck driver I’m so worried I will have to give up my career.

[@decembersunita]

My life is destroyed by keratoconus. 😞 Scleral lenses are so expensive, I can't afford. 😢 I'm saving money though. I can't tolerate RGP lenses. They are so painful.

[@1lifeonearth]

same with me, i used to be a very optimistic person but now my life is basically over. please save up or find a way to get insurance, get corneal cross linking, and get these special lenses. and we can hope for a future where lasik can save us.

[@manhwamaster5880]

Same I also can't take RGP lenses it's really painful so I switch to another lenses.

[@manhwamaster5880]

@@britneygrant6791 is scleral lenses not painful?? RGP really hurts my eyes so I stopped using it. Now I'm using another lens tho it's painful but somehow bearable.

[@britneygrant6791]

@@manhwamaster5880 No it takes practice putting them in but once they are on you can barely feel them.

[@gambitz]

Cant freaking afford it....depression takes over