Great success with scleral lenses...not expensive.

[Bonnie]

Dr. Brent Ostoich in Chicago, IL...I was directed to him by my eye dr...I have severely dry eyes, and corneal scarring from just plain dry (sjogrens). Could hardly keep my eyes open and very fuzzy vision. Dr. Ostoich fitted me with scleral lenses...it's like a miracle. I can see and the comfort level alone is a Godsend. I can't wait to put them in...he says they are Boston design, but you don't have to go to Boston! I got them a few years ago, and at that time he was the only distributer in IL...I don't know if that is still true...but the first lens was $1000...after that (since I've already been fitted and nothing changed) a replacement lens was only $400. Still alot cheaper than Boston.

[Connected Visions]

...he says they are Boston design...

Bonnie,
I'm glad you are having a good experience with your lenses, but I wanted to share something with the community. Boston Foundation for Sight (BFS) and it’s 12 PROSE Partner Clinics are the only providers of PROSE treatment, which uses FDA-approved custom-designed and fabricated prosthetic devices to treat complex corneal disease. PROSE devices are designed by PROSE Clinical Fellows using BFS’ proprietary Design to Fit™ CAD/CAM system and manufactured at Boston Foundation for Sight using Precitech diamond Nanoform lathes.

Over the past 20 years these devices had been referred to as Boston Scleral Contact Lenses, Boston Scleral Lenses, Boston Scleral Lens Prosthetic Devices, and Boston Ocular Surface Prosthesis (BOS-P™).

Other providers may fit scleral lenses made out of Bausch + Lomb's Boston® gas-permeable lens materials. These are not the same custom-made PROSE devices manufactured at BFS and fit at their clinic in Needham, MA and by PROSE Clinical Fellows at one of 12 PROSE Partner Clinics in the US and abroad. I say all this because you mention that "he says they are the Boston design" and I just don't want folks to be confused.

Also, regarding costs, almost 80% of the patients treated at BFS in 2010 were covered in part or in full for PROSE treatment through their insurance providers and/or financial assistance.

Wishing you well,

Janice M. Epstein
BFS Online Community Advocate
connectedvisions@bostonsight.org
www.bostonsight.org/blog

[Rebecca Petris]

Thanks for the clarification Janice... I was wondering what they meant by "Boston design"! And the insurance point is so important. There are frequent references here to the high cost of PROSE but more to the point is what people are actually paying out of pocket.

Bonnie, I'm really glad to hear of your success. Did I understand right that you've been wearing them for a few years? Can you share with us any more of what it's been like? Are you able to wear them full time?

[Guest]

And the insurance point is so important. There are frequent references here to the high cost of PROSE but more to the point is what people are actually paying out of pocket.

At first glance, the fact that 80% of people getting PROSE have the costs covered at least partially by insurance/subsidies etc. sounds so great... BUT, I wonder what percentage of patients who might benefit from PROSE are actually able to obtain such coverage...

I suspect that there are also many patients who never make it to BFS because they are unable to get funding from their insurance/government plans/subsidies etc.... the percentage of patients who should try PROSE AND are able to get coverage for them is no doubt much LESS than 80%.

I know for myself, I technically would be counted in that 80% category since part of my treatment costs will be covered, but the reality is that although I'll have my airfare covered, as well as the cost of the initial doctor's consult based on our provincial fee schedule, I'll still end up paying thousands of dollars out of pocket to obtain these lenses. (if I'm mistaken here, then my apologies...) Obviously not the fault of BFS as I know they do the best they can... but it's unfortunate that so many of us fall into this type of scenario.

Hopefully as word gets out about the benefits of PROSE, more and more governments/insurance companies etc. will cover them fully.

In any case, I'm sooo grateful that the PROSE lenses are a treatment option for people such as myself, but it's also scary to think of spending all this money when I don't know if I'll be successful at being able to wear them... crossing my fingers...

[tearless2]

I was looking to see of there were any plans to have a PROSE partner clinic in the Pacific NW (it seems like there are so dry eye people many here) and I saw this quote on the website:

"BFS continues to develop new partnerships with specialty eye care centers. We are currently in active discussions with potential partners in California, Florida, Maryland, and Canada. Join our e-bulletin mailing list to get the latest on new PROSE Clinic Network openings as they happen!"

I don't know when the Canadian partnership will happen but has anyone asked about it? From the recent discussion, it seems like this is the key for Canadian insurance coverage.

I also wonder if the failure rate for fitting the sclerals for dry eye is higher in the partner facilities than in Boston.