scleral rewettability

[painintheeye]

Dr.G,

i am considering getting scleral lenses from london (ken pullum) because of convenience as i am from asia and it's too far a trip for me to boston or miami. i am wondering what are the differences between the lenses used by BFS and Moorefields? Rebecca kindly mentioned the "plasma" treatment making it superior in rewettability. i am aqueous deficient (schrimer score in 2-3) so is it a legitimate concern that i should be aware of if i go to london? would that significantly affect my comfort and wear time? your advice is most appreciated.

chris C

[DrG]

Dear Chris,

To tell the truth, I really don't know what the differences are between Innovative's and BFS' scleral lenses. I do know that Ken Pullum is a very experienced fitter and manufactures his own lenses.

Plasma treatment does improve the wettability of the RGP material. In an upcoming newsletter, I plan to show pictures of a lens before and after plasma treatment in an individual who has severe dry eye issues. The difference was quite remarkable.

The newsletter is the "GRS Newsletter," after my new venture "Global Refractive Solutions." The next newsletter will feature a pictorial on the development of a new mini-scleral lens.

[painintheeye]

any updates on plasma treatment study?

Hi DrG,

any new update on the plasma treatment study? i just read a thread where a member tried her lens from ken's shop and asked for plasma treatment on lens. she was told that plasma treatment lasts only for a week. is that true? i find it very odd. is there different "plasma treatment" techniques available hence the difference in durability? BFS seems to plasma treat lens as its "standardized" lens and if it only lasts for a week, it wouldn't have made any sense of it right?

your input is most appreciated.

Chris C

[DrG]

Dear Chris,

I am *sold* on plasma treatment because I can literally see the difference in a patient with dry eye. It definitely lasts more than one week, and special precautions need to be taken with respect to cleaning, avoiding scratches, etc. As I mentioned in another thread, the Menicon Z lens has always relied upon plasma treatment for enhanced wettability because the DK of the material is so high, and I don't recall ever having a problem with that lens during the normal lifespan. I believe that the BFS also uses some very high DK materials, in which case the plasma treatment would be less of an option and more of a necessity.

Most of the lenses I prescribe are of Boston XO material, which wets fairly well in normal eyes. However, it wets better after plasma treatment. Not all labs offer plasma treatment, and those who don't offer it are probably more prone to expressing scepticism with regards to durability.