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New Scleral Lens Wearer
I am wearing the Boston scleral lenses right now. I just got home from Boston a few days ago and have been waiting to write about my experience because I wanted a little time to adjust to the lenses first. With all contact lenses (even soft lenses) there is an adjustment period. The adjustment period with new RGP wearers is much longer than with soft lenses, especially in terms of comfort. I am definitely still adjusting to them.
The reason I got the lenses is due to idiopathic dry eye. Most the other patients while I was at Boston Sight had dry eyes. The other patients dry eyes were due to cancer (leukemia), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, anesthetic cornea from shingles, and one lady with both keratoconus and dry eye. There was also another lady there who had idiopathic dry eye like myself. I was in Boston for a total of ten days (they do not see patients on weekends) and it took the entire time to ensure that I got the proper fit. I was fitted by Dr. Johns and Dr. Rosenthal, who are both excellent and very caring. The clinic is very nice and has a kitchen, quiet room, and media room to relax in while you are there. There is a CVS, a small grocery store, and a Starbucks within walking distance. Also within walking distance is the "T", which is public transportation to various places in Needham and Boston, etc. I spent most my time in either the kitchen or quiet room and just talking to other patients. I could not see very well and at times was quite uncomfortable with the trial lenses on, which is part of the fitting process and what you will have to wear before you get lenses made with your actual fit and prescription.
While in Boston I stayed at the Sheraton Needham hotel and took the free shuttle to and from the clinic or caught a ride with patients who had a rental car. The free shuttle will take you anywhere within a 5-mile radius of the hotel. The Sheraton is a very nice hotel with free continental breakfast and in the evening free hors d'oeuvres on the 5th floor (not all hotel guests have access to this, but this is a perk for being patients of Boston Sight). There is a great exercise room with treadmills that have a built-in-tv (take your headphones to plug into it..the hotel has earbuds but it took me two days to get some), stairmaster, and bikes and free weights and also a heated swimming pool. They have a lot of cable channels to watch and movies you can order. They also have room service, but it is very expensive. I only ordered room service once. You can also eat at the clinic for free. You should have a refrigerator at no charge in your room since you are a patient, if not request one. If you want a microwave I am sure you will have to pay a fee. I did not have one. The Sheraton is $99/night for patients. If coming from the airport you will need to either take a taxi (about $60) or make reservations for The Airporter ($45). You can stay at a hospitality home for free if you can't afford the hotel. You will need to make arrangements for a hospitality home with Bill Rosenthal.
In the short time I have had the lenses, I can say my attitude has changed dramatically for the better and I am not having any more burning eye pain. These lenses also have a therapeutic effect because when I remove them my eyes feel great for a few hours and better than normal when I wake up. I had some issues with clarity of vision in my left eye, but I do not know if that is due to debris getting under the lens or if it is because I am adjusting to the lenses. Dr. Rosenthal said I may need to have the plug in the left eye removed. I do not have a plug in the right eye and vision has been fine in that eye. The lenses were feeling very tight and uncomfortable at first, but today they actually are starting to feel more comfortable. I am very happy right now that I went to Boston. I will continue to update. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
The reason I got the lenses is due to idiopathic dry eye. Most the other patients while I was at Boston Sight had dry eyes. The other patients dry eyes were due to cancer (leukemia), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, anesthetic cornea from shingles, and one lady with both keratoconus and dry eye. There was also another lady there who had idiopathic dry eye like myself. I was in Boston for a total of ten days (they do not see patients on weekends) and it took the entire time to ensure that I got the proper fit. I was fitted by Dr. Johns and Dr. Rosenthal, who are both excellent and very caring. The clinic is very nice and has a kitchen, quiet room, and media room to relax in while you are there. There is a CVS, a small grocery store, and a Starbucks within walking distance. Also within walking distance is the "T", which is public transportation to various places in Needham and Boston, etc. I spent most my time in either the kitchen or quiet room and just talking to other patients. I could not see very well and at times was quite uncomfortable with the trial lenses on, which is part of the fitting process and what you will have to wear before you get lenses made with your actual fit and prescription.
While in Boston I stayed at the Sheraton Needham hotel and took the free shuttle to and from the clinic or caught a ride with patients who had a rental car. The free shuttle will take you anywhere within a 5-mile radius of the hotel. The Sheraton is a very nice hotel with free continental breakfast and in the evening free hors d'oeuvres on the 5th floor (not all hotel guests have access to this, but this is a perk for being patients of Boston Sight). There is a great exercise room with treadmills that have a built-in-tv (take your headphones to plug into it..the hotel has earbuds but it took me two days to get some), stairmaster, and bikes and free weights and also a heated swimming pool. They have a lot of cable channels to watch and movies you can order. They also have room service, but it is very expensive. I only ordered room service once. You can also eat at the clinic for free. You should have a refrigerator at no charge in your room since you are a patient, if not request one. If you want a microwave I am sure you will have to pay a fee. I did not have one. The Sheraton is $99/night for patients. If coming from the airport you will need to either take a taxi (about $60) or make reservations for The Airporter ($45). You can stay at a hospitality home for free if you can't afford the hotel. You will need to make arrangements for a hospitality home with Bill Rosenthal.
In the short time I have had the lenses, I can say my attitude has changed dramatically for the better and I am not having any more burning eye pain. These lenses also have a therapeutic effect because when I remove them my eyes feel great for a few hours and better than normal when I wake up. I had some issues with clarity of vision in my left eye, but I do not know if that is due to debris getting under the lens or if it is because I am adjusting to the lenses. Dr. Rosenthal said I may need to have the plug in the left eye removed. I do not have a plug in the right eye and vision has been fine in that eye. The lenses were feeling very tight and uncomfortable at first, but today they actually are starting to feel more comfortable. I am very happy right now that I went to Boston. I will continue to update. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
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