Taylor’s Journey with Keratoconus

From Uncertainty to Understanding—with a Boost from a Basketball Legend

For years, Taylor struggled with unexplained vision problems—blurred whiteboards, starbursts around lights, and glasses that didn’t help. After years of confusion, he was diagnosed with keratoconus, a progressive condition that causes the cornea to thin and bulge outward, distorting vision and worsening over time.

“I remember feeling grateful,” Taylor told the Oak Leaf,  “because it finally made sense.”

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition that affects the cornea—the clear, dome-shaped surface at the front of the eye. Instead of staying round, the cornea gradually thins and bulges into a cone shape, which distorts vision and can lead to increased sensitivity to light, frequent prescription changes, and difficulty seeing clearly even with glasses.

In the early stages, keratoconus may be managed with glasses or soft contact lenses. As the condition progresses, scleral lenses—rigid, gas-permeable lenses that vault over the irregular cornea—can provide clearer, more stable vision. In addition, a minimally invasive procedure called corneal cross-linking may be recommended to help stabilize the cornea and slow progression by strengthening collagen fibers within the corneal tissue.

Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential to protecting long-term vision in patients with keratoconus.

Taylor’s Treatment Journey

He was referred to Dr. Margaret Liu and Dr. Helena Cheng at San Francisco Eye Institute, where he received corneal cross-linking to slow the progression of the condition. He was also fitted with scleral lenses, which made a dramatic difference in his ability to see and function day to day.

During his care, Dr. Liu mentioned that NBA star Steph Curry also has keratoconus and uses scleral lenses to manage the condition.

“Hearing that Steph Curry has the same condition and found success with scleral lenses gave me hope,” Taylor said.

Now able to drive, read signs, and navigate daily life with greater ease, Taylor continues to share his story in hopes of raising awareness and encouraging others not to ignore their symptoms.