Scleral Lenses

[Amy09]

Hey everyone, it's Amy. A few people suggested the scleral lenses to me from the place in Boston. I talked to my eye specialist on the phone last week and he says he wants to try botox on my eyelids first, then if that doesn't work, major surgery right after I graduate, and if THAT still doesn't help he agrees that Boston's scleral lenses might work in relieving my pain.

I have a question though. I know it is very superficial to say, but one thing I really, really hate about these problems with my eyes is that it makes them so red! I look like I have pink eye all the time! I found a website for a company called Cantor-Nissel that not only says they make the scleral lenses for dry eyes, but that they are able to do custom painting on them (something which I am pretty sure the place in Boston does NOT do). They say they have done custom painting on the part of the lense that goes over the whites of the eye, and that they are known for making the lenses look very realisitic to real eyes. This is something I would love to have. All I can say is that this past year, I have become very insecure about my eyes, and I would love to have confidence back, especially before college.

Has anyone heard of this company, Cantor-Nissel? They are located in Europe, but they say they have dozens of distributors around the world. Its probably to good to be true, but I was just curious. According to my doctor, Boston is the only place that exists that does the special scleral lenses, though. Anyways, just a little wishful thinking...

[dianat]

Amy,

I've never heard of a company or such a promise, but I haven't been researching like you have. Please don't feel guilty about being self-conscious with red eyes. Of course you are. You're young and you care what people think about you.

My gut tells me the Boston Lens folks are the authority of the type of treatment you need. Perhaps if you try their lens, your eyes will feel better and not be so red. It's just a thought.

Diana

[kurt]

Scleral lenses are often used as a cosmetic purposes for people whose eyes are deformed or the like. For them, an eye can be painted onto the lens surface.

The other place to be fitted for a scleral lens, also in Boston, is with Jan Cotter, O.D., who worked with Dr. Rosenthal at the Boston Foundation for Sight for ten years, and who is now in private practice. Her contact information is:
Jan Cotter, O.D.
Parkway EyeCare
80 Broadway
Revere, MA 02151
781-289-7929

The scleral lens from BFS is around seven thousand dollars.

[Lucy]

Say that again, please?!!!!!!

The scleral lens from BFS is around seven thousand dollars.

I had to read, and re-read that line. Thanks for the EYE-OPENER, Kurt!

[dianat]

Keep in mind that there is a foundation who will sponsor someone in need of this lens. If someone does not have the means, it can still be done.

[Mr_Cabot]

Scleral Lens - Dr Cotter

I am working with Dr. Cotter on the scleral lens for my dry eyes. I have been piloting the lens for some time now. I have discomfort when wearing it similar to the discomfort I had with contact pre-lasik. She is wonderful though and no commitments required on purchase until you know it is a solution that will work for you. I am not sure it is. Fortunately/Unfortunately my eyes have felt ok without the lens, so I have not been wearing the lens as I should. I need to start wearing so I can decide definitively. Dr. Cotter cost is about 1/3 the cost of the Boston Lens, and insurance may help...It would for me if I go with it.

[Lucy]

Mr. Cabot

I assume you live in the vicinity of the doctor and are not making long commutes. Is that a fair assumption? I'm just wondering if you are flying in and out from some other part of the country. As they say "location, location, location" is sometimes the important thing.

[Amy09]

Expensive lenses....

Yikes, I didn't know the lenses were so expensive. I heard about 1 or 2 thousand, but that they gave them to certain people cheaper, or even free of charge. Wow, seven thousand....

[Mr_Cabot]

Location, Location....location

I am fortunate to be somewhat close to the Boston Area. It's a little more than a two hour drive one-way to see Dr. Cotter. So its not too too bad. In the spring and summer she has weekend hours so it makes it even more convenient.

[bmore]

I was a patient of Dr. Cotter's and she is aweseome - no doubt about it.
I too thought that scleral lenses were a good solution for dry eye - what could be better than constant fluid on the cornea all the time?

There were 3 problems which made them unwearable:

1. If you have dry eye, it is unliekly you can tolerate a contact lense of any sort even though the scleral lens vaults over the cornea. It is still in contact with a (dry) conjunctivia - which causes persisent irritation, vessel dilation and discomfort.

2. If you have dry eye, you likley do not have enough tears to keep the surface of the lens wet. That is, your upper lids will tend to move the lens due to friction as you blink.

3. If you have MGD or blepharitis, you are likely to have increased lid irritation. Due to the size of the scleral lens, your lids are in constant contact with the lens. This contact futher irritates the lids - and for me, caused increased lid bruning and irritation.

*** You should also be concerend with neovascularization (albeit to a lesser degree).

I offer you these thoughts since I did invest a considerable amount of money and time to learn the above lessons. I'm not saying that the scleral lens wont work for you, but they did not for me and the only reason I pursed them was as a cure(patch) for my dry eye condition.

[Mr_Cabot]

Scleral

BMore,
It sounds like you ended up purchasing the lenses or are the expenses you talk about due to travel, etc, etc...Just curious.

[dianat]

I appreciate what BMore has said. I must add, however, that probably everything we have to try is worth trying. I have a severely dry eyed friend who found herself some soft lenses whe could tolerate. They have improved her messed up LASIK vision as well as improved the comfort of her eyes. She tried lens after lens for YEARS, and finally found something. One just never knows.

[bmore]

Yes I purchased both mini-sclerals as well as full size sclerals.
Spent about $4K total for the actual lenses.
I was warned they probably would not work (contacts in a dry eye with lid issues), but desperate times called for desperate measures...

[jcorbett]

Dianat:

Do you know what kind of soft lenses your friend found that worked?

[dianat]

Definition AC lens

http://practitioners@opticonnection.com/defac.html