Keratoconus and Corneal Cross-Linking Care at Azure Eye Center in Fort Worth and Colleyville, TX
As summer winds down in North Texas, many people are focused on back-to-school checklists, end-of-season travel, and settling into new routines. August is also an ideal time to bring attention to an eye condition that often goes unnoticed until it has already begun to impact vision: keratoconus. At Azure Eye Center, with offices in both Fort Worth and Colleyville, our team is dedicated to diagnosing keratoconus early and offering advanced treatment solutions, including corneal cross-linking (CXL).
This month’s spotlight is designed to help patients in our community better understand keratoconus, how cross-linking can preserve vision, and why seeking care from a fellowship-trained cornea specialist like Dr. David Truong provides peace of mind and the highest standard of treatment.
What Is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that affects the cornea, which is the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye. In healthy eyes, the cornea is smooth and evenly curved, allowing light to enter properly and focus clearly on the retina. With keratoconus, however, the cornea gradually thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape.
This irregular shape distorts how light enters the eye, leading to symptoms such as:
- Blurry or distorted vision
- Sensitivity to light and glare, especially when driving at night
- Frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions
- Eye strain and headaches from visual instability
Keratoconus typically begins in the teenage years or early adulthood, but it can progress over time and worsen during a person’s 20s and 30s. If left untreated, advanced keratoconus can cause significant vision impairment and, in severe cases, require a corneal transplant.
For patients in Fort Worth and Colleyville, awareness is critical. Because keratoconus often advances quietly in its early stages, routine eye exams at Azure Eye Center are the best way to ensure the condition is identified as soon as possible.
Corneal Cross-Linking: Preserving Vision and Preventing Progression
Until the past decade, patients diagnosed with keratoconus had limited options for halting the disease. Treatments focused on correcting vision with specialty contact lenses or glasses, but they did not stop the corneal weakening that caused the disease to progress.
Today, corneal cross-linking (CXL) has changed that. CXL is the first and only FDA-approved treatment proven to slow or stop the progression of keratoconus.
How Does Corneal Cross-Linking Work?
The procedure is minimally invasive and works by strengthening the cornea. After carefully applying riboflavin (vitamin B2) eye drops, the cornea is exposed to a controlled ultraviolet A (UV-A) light. This combination triggers a natural chemical reaction that creates new bonds between collagen fibers in the cornea, making it more rigid and stable.
Benefits of CXL for Keratoconus Patients
- Stops or slows disease progression: Prevents further corneal thinning and bulging.
- Reduces need for corneal transplant: By stabilizing the cornea early, many patients avoid more invasive surgeries in the future.
- Preserves quality of life: Patients can maintain more stable vision for daily activities.
- Minimally invasive: Outpatient treatment with relatively quick recovery time.
For patients in Fort Worth and Colleyville, corneal cross-linking at Azure Eye Center provides access to cutting-edge technology close to home, without the need to travel to larger academic medical centers.
Why Choose Azure Eye Center for Keratoconus Treatment?
Fellowship-Trained Expertise
At the heart of Azure Eye Center is Dr. David Truong, a board-certified ophthalmologist with advanced fellowship training in cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery. Dr. Truong completed his fellowship at the prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA, one of the top eye institutes in the country. This specialized training provided him with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating corneal diseases like keratoconus, as well as performing advanced procedures such as corneal cross-linking, corneal transplants, and complex cataract surgery.
In addition to his fellowship, Dr. Truong serves as adjunct faculty at UT Southwestern, where he continues to mentor and educate future ophthalmologists in cornea and refractive surgery. Patients in Fort Worth and Colleyville benefit directly from his advanced skillset, ensuring that their care meets the highest clinical standards.
Comprehensive and Personalized Care
While corneal cross-linking is a powerful tool, not every keratoconus patient will require the procedure. At Azure Eye Center, each treatment plan is personalized. For some patients, specialized contact lenses or eyeglasses may be recommended. For others, cross-linking can be performed to stabilize vision, followed by custom contact lens fitting for optimal clarity.
Our team also provides long-term monitoring, because keratoconus is a lifelong condition that requires regular follow-up care to ensure stability.
Convenient Locations in Fort Worth and Colleyville
With offices in Fort Worth and Colleyville, patients across North Texas have easy access to advanced corneal care. This convenience is particularly valuable for young patients or families managing busy schedules, since frequent visits for follow-up care can be accommodated without long commutes.
Living with Keratoconus: What Patients Should Know
For patients newly diagnosed with keratoconus, it’s natural to feel worried about the future of your vision. The good news is that with modern technology and expert care, the outlook has never been better. Corneal cross-linking offers a proactive way to preserve vision and significantly reduce the risk of advanced disease.
Patients should also know that lifestyle changes, such as avoiding eye rubbing, can make a meaningful difference in protecting the cornea. In addition, staying consistent with annual or semiannual eye exams allows our team at Azure Eye Center to track changes early and intervene if necessary.
Take the Next Step
If you or your loved one experiences:
- Frequent prescription changes
- Blurry, distorted, or ghosted vision
- Increased glare or light sensitivity
- A family history of keratoconus
— it’s time to schedule a corneal evaluation. Early detection and treatment can protect your sight for years to come.
At Azure Eye Center, we are proud to serve patients in Fort Worth and Colleyville, TX, offering fellowship-trained corneal expertise, advanced technology, and compassionate care. Dr. David Truong and our team are here to help you take control of your eye health and preserve your vision for the future.