A Las Vegas family of six is publicizing their shared struggle with a degenerative eye-disease called Keratoconus.
For 17-year-old Arturo Perez, it all started with a wake-up call from his teachers at school. They noticed something was wrong.
"They saw me squinting a lot in class and teachers told me to go to the doctor," Arturo told 13 Action News.
Doctors discovered that Arturo had the disease, known for obstructing the cornea. But soon after, his twin brother was diagnosed followed by their younger brother and baby sister. Their parents were also diagnosed.
"I just thought it was my two brothers,” youngest brother Sebastian recalled. “I didn't think it was like my whole family."
After months of research, the family found Dr. Jack Abrams, a local doctor who has performed dozens of corrective surgeries for this disease.
"It affects vision significantly, and occasionally turns into scar tissue and causes further damage," Dr. Abrams told 13 Action News.
Dr. Abrams is the only doctor in Las Vegas that performs Laser Intac Surgery.
"Laser is better because it's more accurate,” said Dr. Abrams.
Arturo wants families in similar situations to know that there is hope.
"Illness is probably a small part of their lives and they can overcome it and science is always finding new ways to treat medical issues," Arturo shared.
The family’s surgeries begin in late March.
