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Keratoconus Specialist in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Keratoconus is a rare, progressive disease that affects the cornea, which is the clear, transparent layer at the front of the eye.

Meet Our Keratoconus Specialist in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Rebecca Rudisill, O. D.

Rebecca Rudisill, O. D.

Dr. Rebecca L Rudisill specializes in optometry and has over 20 years of experience in the field of medicine.

Sarah Clisham

Sarah Clisham O. D.

Dr. Clisham is a board-certified optometrist who earned her doctorate from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in 2022, after completing her bachelor’s in biology at Shippensburg University in 2018. She is a member of the American optometric association as well as the Pennsylvania optometric association.

Dr. Clisham is dedicated to providing comprehensive contact lens exams to adults and children. In her free time, Dr. Clisham enjoys exploring the Lancaster area with her husband and taking trips to the beach.

Allison Brun, O.D.

Allison Brun, O.D.

Dr. Brun earned her doctorate from Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in Elkins Park, PA, after completing her bachelor's in Biology and Chemistry at Millersville University. She earned clinical honors while completing her training at Yealy Eye Care, Mulqueeny Eye Centers in St. Louis, MO, The Eye Institute at Salus University in Philadelphia, PA, and Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates in Havre de Grace, MD. She is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Pennsylvania Optometric Association, and has volunteered for Special Olympics, VisionCorps, and participated in many screenings for the community throughout her schooling. Dr. Brun can provide comprehensive and contact lens eye exams to children and adults, diagnose and treat ocular disease, and provide emergency care to her patients.  Dr. Brun is originally from Delaware County, PA but is excited to be back and settle down in Lancaster County with her fiancée, Austin. In her free time, Dr. Brun likes to hang out with her friends and family and try new places in the city.

Emily Frank, O.D.

Emily Frank, O.D.

Dr. Frank received her degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry and then completed a residency in ocular disease at OMNI Eye Specialists in Baltimore. She has well over a decade of eye care experience and has spent most of that at a referral clinic for diagnosis and management of ocular disease in Baltimore. She finds eye-care immensely fulfilling because in addition to helping people with the gift of sight, she has had the opportunity to connect with diverse patients from around the world. Whether it is through her work teaching at CCBC, interns, and technicians, or keeping current on evolving treatment options at her practices, Dr. Frank continues to grow and share her knowledge.

Dr. Frank is proud to now call Lancaster County home with her husband and three children. She is an avid volunteer at her children's elementary schools and a member of St Leo Parish.

Maia Moyer Hazen O.D.

Maia Moyer-Hazen, O.D.

Dr. Moyer is a recent graduate of Salus University and Lancastrian transplant. Dr. Moyer grew up in rural up-state New York. She is a primary care optometrist with a specialty in low vision. Dr. Moyer, along with Dr. Yealy, is one of central Pennsylvania’s only low vision specialists, treating vision loss due to macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other debilitating diseases causing severe vision loss.

Lynne Glinski, O.D.

Lynne Glinski, O.D.

Dr. Glinski received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience from Franklin & Marshall College in 2004. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in 2009. She earned clinical honors throughout her externship rotations in primary care, ocular disease, contact lenses and pediatrics. Dr. Glinski continued her training by completing a residency in primary care and ocular disease at The Eye Institute in Philadelphia in 2010. She joined the Yealy Eye Care Family in 2017. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Pennsylvania Optometric Association and the Lancaster County Optometric Society. Dr. Glinski is dedicated to providing quality eye care, contact lens services and management of ocular diseases.

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Natalia Yealy, O.D.

Dr. Natalia Yealy received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida in 2002, she graduated with honors and was a recipient of the prestigious Miller Scholar Award. She received a second Bachelors degree and her Doctorate of Optometry in 2006 from Nova Southeastern University, graduating at the top of her class. After graduation, she was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Army and served on active duty for four years while stationed at the Pentagon, Walter Reed, Fort Sam Houston, TX., and Fort Jackson, SC. She continued life in the Army following her active duty husband (Dr. Ryan Yealy) to Fort Knox, KY. and Fort Carson, CO. until 2013, when they decided to move to PA and put down permanent roots.

Dr. Yealy provides primary eye care, diagnosing, treating and managing conditions and diseases of the eye and visual system and also specializes in pediatrics. Dr. Yealy was born in Colombia and is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Dr. Natalia Yealy recibió su licenciatura en Ciencias de la Universidad de Florida en 2002. Se graduó con honores y recibió el pretigioso premio como "Miller Scholar". Recibió segunda Licenciatura y el Doctorado en Optometría en 2006 de la Universidad Nova Southeastern, donde se graduó con honores. Después de graduarse, fué comisionada como Capitán en el ejército de Estados Unidos donde sirvió por cuatro años. Inicialmente en el Pentágono y el hospital Walter Reed, luego en el Fort Sam Houston, TX., y Fort Jackson, SC. Continuó la vida en el ejército junto con su esposo, el también Capitan Dr. Ryan Yealy, en Fort Knox, KY. y Fort Carson, CO. hasta 2013 cuando decidieron trasladarse a PA y echar raíces permanentes.

La Dra. Natalia Yealy brinda atención ocular primaria, diagnóstico, tratamiento y manejo de condiciones y enfermedades de los ojos y el sistema visual y también se especializa en pediatría. La Dra. Yealy nació en Colombia y habla con fluidez el Español y el Inglés.

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Ryan Yealy, O.D.

Dr. Ryan Yealy received his Bachelor of Science degree from Millersville University and his Doctorate of Optometry from Salus University in Philadelphia. After graduation, he was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Army and served on active duty for four years. He was first stationed at Fort Knox, KY. where he helped oversee a student externship program while engaging in special training for Air Assault school and going on a mission trip to provide care in Cambodia. He then was transferred to Fort Carson, CO. where he was one of two Optometrists assigned to a Combat Unit. After his active duty service was complete, he decided to move back to his hometown of Pennsylvania with his wife and young daughter to settle down and be close to family.

Dr. Ryan Yealy provides primary eye care, diagnosing, treating and managing conditions and diseases of the eye and visual system and also specializes in low vision evaluations.

El Dr. Ryan Yealy recibió su Licenciatura en Ciencias en la Universidad Millersville y su Doctorado en Optometría en la Universidad Salus en Filadelfia. Luego fué comisionado como Capitan en el ejército de los Estados Unidos y estuvo en servicio activo por cuatro años. Inicialmente en Fort Knox, KY. supervisando el programa de externado en Optometría y simultaneamente entrenándose en la escuela de "Asalto Aereo" y participando en misiones en Camboia. Luego fue trasladado al Fort Carson, CO. donde era uno de los dos doctors asignados a una mission de combate. Al terminar su servicio en el ejército regreso a su ciudad natal en Pensilvania junto con su esposa y sus hijos.

El Dr. Ryan Yealy brinda atención ocular primaria, diagnóstico, tratamiento y manejo de condiciones y enfermedades de los ojos y se especializa en la evaluación de condiciones severas de Baja Vision.

Our Doctor Can Diagnosis and Treat Keratoconus

Your cornea is the transparent, outer lens of your eye, and it typically has a smooth dome shape. Keratoconus describes a condition in which the corneal structure isn’t strong enough to maintain a healthy ball shape.

Meet with our Keratoconus Specialist in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to define your eye's condition and ways for treatment.

As a result, the cornea bulges outward into more of a cone. Our professional optometric team at our eye care clinic is knowledgeable about how to diagnose and treat keratoconus.

Keratoconus is rare, with an estimated one person out of every 2,000 having the condition. It generally appears in the teenage years and can progress slowly or rapidly.

Keratoconus also runs in families, so if you or your children are at risk, it’s advised to contact us for a thorough eye exam.

Causes of Keratoconus

Your cornea is held in place by very small collagen fibers. When they are weakened and too fragile, they aren’t able to preserve the round shape of your cornea.

A reduction in the protective antioxidants of your cornea, which act to destroy damaging by-products made naturally by corneal cells, is what causes keratoconus.

In addition to genetics, some types of eye injuries may increase your chance of being diagnosed with keratoconus.

Specific ocular diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, vernal keratoconjunctivitis and retinopathy of prematurity, as well as some systemic conditions (Down syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Leber's congenital amaurosis and osteogenesis imperfecta) are also associated with this corneal abnormality.

Our Keratoconus Specialist in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has years of experience identifying the various levels of keratoconus and other corneal conditions.

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Symptoms of Keratoconus

When the shape of your cornea begins to bulge, it alters your eyesight in two different ways. As the cone shape forms, your normally smooth corneal surface becomes wavy, called irregular astigmatism. Additionally, as your cornea expands, vision becomes increasingly nearsighted. Focusing becomes impossible without eyeglasses or contact lenses. Usually, the problems begin in one eye and develop later in the other eye too.

Typically, patient’s eyeglass prescription will change often as the vision becomes worse and contact lenses will be difficult to wear due to discomfort and improper fit.

When keratoconus become more severe (which usually takes a long time however on occasion can happen rather quickly), the cornea can begin to swell and form scar tissue. This scar tissue can result in even further visual distortion and blurred vision.

Altogether, these changes can create the following symptoms:

  • Blurred vision
  • Streaking of lights
  • Halos around bright lights at night; glare
  • Sudden change of vision in only one eye
  • Objects appear distorted, both near and distant
  • Double vision from just one eye
  • Triple ghost images

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How We Diagnose Keratoconus

Our eye doctors will inspect carefully for the signs of keratoconus during your comprehensive eye exam. It’s critical to inform us of any symptoms that you’ve been experiencing. To diagnose the condition, we’ll measure the shape of your cornea. Computerized Corneal Topography is used for this procedure, which takes a picture of your cornea and analyzes it instantly.

Treatment for Keratoconus

The first line of treatment is usually new prescription eyeglasses. If this solution doesn’t help you achieve good vision, then contact lenses will be tried. Rigid, gas permeable lenses are typically prescribed.

As the disease progresses, however, glasses and soft contact lenses may no longer correct vision and soft lenses may become uncomfortable. This is when other forms of vision correction will be recommended.

Gas Permeable and Scleral Contact Lenses

At the more advanced stage of keratoconus rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, scleral or semi-scleral lenses may be used for increased comfort and visual acuity. Since they are more rigid, RGP and scleral lenses are able to create a smooth, round shape around the cornea, creating a smoother surface for better vision.

Scleral or semi-scleral lenses have a larger diameter which covers the entire cornea and reaches over into the white part of the eye, which is known as the sclera.

Many patients find these more comfortable than regular RGPs and find that they move around less when the eyes move. The main disadvantage of these rigid lenses is that for some, they are somewhat less comfortable than soft lenses and they must be continually refitted as the shape of the eye changes.

Whether it is glasses or contact lenses being used to correct vision, patients will likely have to undergo many tests and prescription changes as their vision needs to change.

Intacs

Intacs are small, surgically implanted plastic inserts which are placed on the cornea to flatten it back to shape. Usually they are able to restore clear vision, with the continued use of glasses. Intacs are often recommended when contact lenses and eyeglasses are no longer able to correct vision adequately. Intacs take about 10 minutes to insert and can delay the need for corneal transplant.

PTK for severe keratoconus

Severe keratoconus may lead to extreme scarring, due to overstretched collagen fibers. If the back of your corneas tears as a result, swelling may occur. It can take months for the swelling to go down, and a large scar is generally created. PTK, a specialized procedure, can smooth out this scar, thereby enhancing contact lens comfort.

Cornea collagen crosslinking

Cornea collagen crosslinking is another therapy that has shown to be effective in slowing the progression of keratoconus. An alternate remedy is called intacs, which are semicircular implants inserted under the surface of the cornea to flatten the bulging cone shape and give better vision.

Cornea Transplant

As a last resort, a cornea transplant may be performed. During this procedure, the center of your cornea will be removed and replaced with a donor cornea. The new cornea is stitched into place, and you’ll need to wear contact lenses for adequate vision after the surgery.

Dangers of LASIK and Keratoconus

LASIK can potentially weaken the cornea of anyone who suffers from keratoconus, making it a dangerous procedure. If this happens, your vision will become substantially worse. Even if your keratoconus is mild, LASIK is not an option.

Our Keratoconus Specialist in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is happy to meet with you for a 1-on-1 consultation to get you back on the path to reaching clear vision.

Meet with Our Keratoconus Specialist in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania