Mackey’s Cross Linking Story

Mackey underwent corneal cross linking with Dr. Margaret Liu at San Francisco Eye Institute. He has been diagnosed with a condition called keratoconus, which was progressively depleting his ability to see clearly. Before, Mackey felt nearly handicapped by his poor vision. Since his procedure with Dr. Liu, Mackey can see better than ever before and the impacts on his life have been tremendous.

This is Mackey’s story.

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a condition that causes the shape of the cornea to change. In a normal eye, the cornea is shaped like a dome, allowing it to properly focus and bend light rays onto the retina. In an eye with keratoconus, the cornea is shaped like a cone. This distorted cornea shape impairs the ability of the cornea to properly focus light, and it also causes the cornea to thin out and weaken. Keratoconus causes distorted and blurry vision, and is a progressive condition. There is no cure for keratoconus, but corneal cross linking can stop the progression of this corneal disease.

What is Corneal Cross Linking?

Corneal cross linking is a minimally invasive procedure that can stop the progression of keratoconus. This procedure was approved by the FDA in 2016, and the Glaukos iLink KXL System is the only method of corneal cross linking approved for use in the United States.

During corneal crosslinking, the top layer of the cornea is temporarily disrupted, then riboflavin (Vitamin B2) drops are applied. Once the drops have had 30 minutes to soak in, a device projects ultraviolet light onto the surface of the cornea for 30 minutes. The combination of the riboflavin and the UV light helps make the collagen fibers in the cornea stronger. By thickening and shortening the collagen fibrils in the cornea, corneal cross linking helps make the cornea stiffer so that it can maintain its shape. While corneal cross linking may not improve vision, it can stop keratoconus and vision loss from progressing.

Mackey’s Vision Before Corneal Cross Linking

For most of his life, Mackey had 20/20 vision. In 2009 his vision got a bit worse, so he went to Costco for an exam and glasses. The optician there told him that he had an eye condition (which he now knows is keratoconus), and that he would be blind in five years. Mackey was a commercial driver, and though his vision did get slightly worse over the years, he was able to maintain his license with the help of regularly updated eye glasses.

In 2019, Mackey saw an eye doctor near his family in Alabama. This doctor noticed the keratoconus, and referred Mackey to an ophthalmologist who specializes in treating corneal diseases. In 2020, Mackey underwent corneal cross linking on his left eye.

Despite undergoing the procedure on one eye, Mackey’s vision became increasingly imparied. He was no longer able to work as a commercial driver. In fact, any driving at all filled Mackey with anxiety because he simply couldn’t see clearly. He moved to California to live with his daughter, gave up driving, and stopped engaging in many of his regular activities. Mackey says, “It was almost like being paralyzed. I didn’t want to leave the house because I couldn’t see. I stopped doing everything I loved and tried to resign myself to disability for the rest of my life.”

Mackey’s Corneal Cross Linking Experience

Fortunately for Mackey, an Internet search in January 2021 led him to Dr. Margaret Liu and the team at San Francisco Eye Institute. Because he was uncomfortable driving, he took a ride share to the appointment and booked a hotel room in San Francisco for the night. Dr. Liu immediately confirmed Mackey’s keratoconus diagnosis and got him scheduled for corneal cross linking as soon as possible. 

Mackey underwent the hour-long procedure that April, and reports that everything went smoothly. His experience undergoing corneal cross linking with Dr. Liu was far more comfortable than when he had the procedure done on his left eye two years before. Mackey says that he was uncomfortable for the first few days of the recovery process, but by day four he felt like himself again. 

Mackey’s Vision after iLink Corneal Cross Linking

Corneal crosslinking with iLink is primarily a treatment to prevent vision loss due to progression of keratoconus and may not lead to improved vision, but for Mackey, the procedure changed his life immediately. He says, “I’m still noticing all of the ways my life is better now that I can see clearly.” The first day after he recovered from the procedure, Mackey drove. Unlike before, he could see everything and felt no anxiety. Now, he can do everything he used to love doing…and more. With his new-found clear vision (20/20 in his right eye with contacts), Mackey even followed his dream, taking on a new apprenticeship as a meat cutter that he loves.

Mackey says, “I had prepared myself that (my vision and life) wasn’t going to get any better. This is better than I could have imagined!”

His entire experience with San Francisco Eye Institute has exceeded every expectation. Not only did Dr. Liu help him feel comfortable at every stage of his treatment, but the office staff always greets him by name with a friendly smile.

When asked if he has any advice for other people who have keratoconus, Mackey says, “Get on the schedule with Dr. Liu as soon as possible.” 

Contact San Francisco Eye Institute

Whether you have a serious corneal disease like keratoconus or would simply like to explore your vision correction options, San Francisco Eye Institute is the home of superior eye care in the Bay Area. Contact us to schedule your consultation today.