Boston Sclera Lens...Relief

[ChristineNY]

Bella

I have seen on this site that other people mention they purchased sclera lenses that were less expensive at other places and they did not provide any comfort for them and they ended up being stuck with them and not using them.
the reason why you have to be at BFS for a week to 2 weeks is because it is all trial and error with fittings and comfort while you are there. they make the lenses on site and you wear them for 2 hours or so and get checked through the week on tweaking the lenses just right for each person. they made 8 lenses before I left with the ones that I have.
I do not see why you could not just use tear drops and not place saline solution in them but you should check with your eye dr since I would not know that answer.
Are you using preservative free sterile saline solution? That is the one I use and keep it in the fridge and only use the bottle for 2 days.
The main purpose of the lenses are for comfort and the vision is 2ndary is the dr's thoughts in BFS.

I hope you can find some relief as I have, we all know how frustrating it can be to be in pain all day. I used to just want to not even bother going out some days.

Also about putting drops in over the lenses on a day to day basis, my office is very dry so I only find that sometimes if the air circulation is really bad in the building I will place a drop in my eyes over the lenses to lubricate them but that is only when at work, everywhere else I am fine...too bad we spend more time at work than anywhere else but I can deal with it for the benefits I get in everyday life now

[Lucy]

Christine, your post gives the impression that BFS gives you lenses that help you or none at all. This isn't necessarily true. I have one set of Boston Scleral lens, plus one more for my left eye sitting in my kitchen cupboard. I made 3 trips to Boston from Michigan to try for fittings. I was given one set of sclerals on my second trip. On my third trip, I went back especially for fittings on my left eye. I was there that particular week and they had me leave on Friday knowing that the left lens did not fit me properly. In fact, they kept the lens overnight to put a coating on it and then UPS'd the lens to me. My insurance was billed $5,000 for the second lens. My insurance was billed $7,600 for the original pair of lenses.

It isn't necessarily the "kind" of scleral lens that makes the best fit. As you can see, even the most expensive sometimes do not make the grade. For all my trips to Boston, the money my insurance paid, I'm still in the same situation. BFS got paid anyhow. Lucy

[DCRdryeye]

Lucy

Really sorry that you couldn't get a good fit with the sclerals after all that money and travelling.

At BFS I'm not sure if the high price is for all the fittings and the time staff put into it...or the cost of the lens. I can't see how the lens would cost nearly $4,000 each, mine were a lot cheaper and not necessarily poorer in quality. It's possible mine are the same material.

I know with sclerals it depends on the skill of the optometrist. Obviously you've been to the most acclaimed place for the sclerals and it hasn't worked for you. So both high quality sclerals, coupled with advanced fitting skills still wasn't enough.

Perhaps there is still some hope with "persistance". They may need to adapt their technique to provide a better fit. I'd keep onto them and insist they not give up on you until you get exactly what you want.

My optometrist said he will persist to get a comfortable fit for me as long as I persist. In other words, he will never give up.

Lucy, they may develop some new advances in the near future that may work for you, Meantime, I'd keep persisting with them over the phone, via emails, look up other optometrists who fit sclerals, etc. The answer maybe simply finding another technician. There has GOT TO BE A SOLUTION for you.

... Thanks Christine for your cleaning routine. I spotted a large bottle of saline solution a week or two ago for $3 at my local pharmacy and was going to use it to fill the scleral lens.... until I read your post where you use the saline vials. Yes, the large bottle of saline has preservatives.. I'll use it for cleaning only. I wish you continued comfort with your sclerals

[jenny2008]

Lucy,

I love how you tell like it is... Because you correct. I went to Louisville to try and get fitted for Sclerals. My pore eyes couldn't handle the damn lenses! My lids were so irritated. Dr. Foulks said this probably means I am not a candidate for them and that a lot of people aren't. I agree with you that it doesn't matter where you get them from. From what I hear there are a few different types of materials that are used and I am aware that Boston does many fittings ..but like you said some people just aren't candidates for them.

[autumnn]

So what is the consensus on these lenses helping people with poor tear film and MGD??? Anyone have these issues that were helped by the Boston lenses????

[Lucy]

Some are ok, others not. Rebecca has Boston sclerals and Christine just in this thread posted they helped her. This something you don't know until you've made the decision to at least try them. If it's apparent from the start they won't work for you, the BFS will send you away. Problem is, it's not always apparent. Lucy

[browneyes]

hi Lucy,

perhaps you mention this elsewhere, but why does the lens work for one of your eyes but not the other? In the good eye, does the lens provide complete relief?

I'm thinking about making the trip to Boston... even having one good eye from the lens would be an improvement for me.

[Lucy]

Unfortunately, my right eye is pretty much ok now 9 years after Lasik, other than dryness (from Lasik and Sjogrens). The cornea in the right eye is fairly healthy and was not butchered in the Lasik. I really do not need a lens in this eye (as much). It does me no good to wear the lens I don't really need when the other eye is barely able to open. If my fit was the other way around, I'd be all set. It's the bad eye they cannot fit. Without THAT eye feeling good, life isn't good. Lucy

I think you overestimate what one eye feeling ok would do. If the other is a 9 or 10 on the pain scale and vision no good, you are still in pain and have crappy vision. My right eye is ok if I take care of it keeping it moist enough, wear goggles etc, but it does not lessen the pain in the left eye. If I could, I'd seriously have my left eye taken out. Lucy

[ChristineNY]

Sorry Lucy

I am sorry if you got that impression from me.
I beleive I did say I was there for a week and went through about 8 lenses before I received a good fit.
On my 1st day there Dr Rosenthal said I was not a candidate and could not be fitted on my right eye which has the cornea transplant and lasik and was legally blind in and had the most pain in from my surgeries.
Dr. Carrasquillo was the one who saw me the next day and has taken the lens a step further and was able to fit my right eye and help me.

I just wanted to share my experience and how things are going for me after my trip to BFS with others who may be interested.
I came to this site before my trip to get information from people who had them as well just to see their experience with them and felt it was the right choice for me to make the trip and see if they would work for me which it ended up it was.

I referenced the custom fit from BFS because other people previously mentioned other sclera lenses that seem to not be specific fit and more of a general size at a lesser cost that do not use because they have no relief.

Again sorry you got that impression but I was only being honest of MY experience there.

[eyedrops]

yes they do make the sclerals custom fit here in Australia.

Hello! I'm an 8 year veteran of the Scleral Lens, and I've recently moved to New Zealand. Could you tell me some info about your Scleral Lens doctor in Aussie? Are they in any way affiliated with The Boston Foundation for Sight? It's really good to know that there may be options closer to me if I run into any problems.

As for the lens itself, I am a Stevens-Johnson survivor, and I've found it enormously life changing. Of course I have good and bad days with them, but overall they bring me comfort and correct my vision. If you have any specific questions about them, please let me know!

~marcey

[Lucy]

Christine, you didn't give me any impression at all except that you were expressing your experience with BFS. I'm glad you were successful in your fitting and that you told us about it. It also gives hope to others.

On the other hand, I only posted my experience. It's important for people to see all sides to the equation and then they can weigh their options about trying the lens.

My first trip to Boston was for one day to see if I was a possible candidate and it was thought I was. Sometime after that, I was at the clinic again for fitting and we were there for 3 or 4 days. I went home with my lenses. The left lens never fit right. Then, on my third trip to Boston, I was there a whole week and they tried 8-10 lenses on my left eye and I was sent home with lens that did not fit and they knew they did not fit. I'm not going to write anything further on this thread. I don't want it to become something it's not meant to be. We both told of our experiences and that is what people need to hear and know. Best, Lucy

[ChristineNY]

Good morning Lucy

I am sorry you had that experience and I wish you and many others success in finding relief whereever that may be from.

I can see your frustration in the failed lenses and do not agree that you were sent home with lenses that did not properly fit. Especially at the cost of them and the cost of the travel for you flying there.

I will keep you in my thoughts to find a resolution somewhere

Wishing all a Good Friday, Passover & Happy Easter. may you all be blessed

Christine

[DCRdryeye]

eyedrops

Hello! I'm an 8 year veteran of the Scleral Lens, and I've recently moved to New Zealand. Could you tell me some info about your Scleral Lens doctor in Aussie? Are they in any way affiliated with The Boston Foundation for Sight? It's really good to know that there may be options closer to me if I run into any problems.

As for the lens itself, I am a Stevens-Johnson survivor, and I've found it enormously life changing. Of course I have good and bad days with them, but overall they bring me comfort and correct my vision. If you have any specific questions about them, please let me know!

~marcey

Hi eyedrops, wow you've had sclerals for 8 yrs?.. The optometrist whom fit my scleral lens has over 20 yrs experience using them. He is highly regarded in optometry circles and runs a specialist contact lens practice in Melbourne. His contact details are....

Richard Lindsay and Associates, Optometry and Contact Lenses, Level 5, 376 Albert St, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002. Phone: (03) 9417 644, Email: mail@lindsayassociates.com.au

Another recommendation is an optometrist, developer of scleral lenses...his website and contact details are at... http://www.ezekieloptoms.com/contact...leralLens.html

I don't think neither of the above two optometrist are involved with The Boston Foundation for Sight.

Let us know how you get on

[diggylove]

how to get lackluster MD to prescribe BSL?

Hello...I am miserable; severe dry eyes are truly ruining my life. I was delighted to hear that Donehy Eye Institute at USC is now prescribing the BLS so I went...& was told by Dr. Samuel Yiu that my corneas are not damaged (thank goodness) so I am not a candidate. How horrible do you have to get? Isn't major burning all the time drastic enough? I have tried plugs (litle help & got infections), tried Restasis (no luck), do heat, etc...have used countless drops (not steroids since my pressures elevate at high normal)...all I know is I am in bad shape, but Dr. Yiu dismissed me as not serious enough, I guess. At what point, is the patient's subjective impressiion of how they feel important enough? I do not want to wait to have corneal damage...already I have suffered for over 4 years & I am getting worse month by month. I have part MGD & part aqueous deficiency...I am extremely depressed on top of it. Can a patient insist on being fitted for the BSL? I can pay for them if need be...but I have good insurance. Quality of life counts a lot here.
Thanks fo any guidance...Susan, age 60, in So. Cal.