FOR PATIENTS
1. What is the Boston Scleral Lens Prosthetic Device and how does it
work?
2. Who can be helped by the Foundation's vision-restoring lenses?
3. How do I know if I am an appropriate patient?
4. Has this technology actually been proven?
5. Why is the Boston Foundation for Sight a nonprofit organization?
6. How much does it cost and is it covered by health insurance?
7. If I can’t afford to come to your clinic or pay for the fitting,
how can you help me?
8. Do I have to come to Boston to be fitted with the Boston Scleral Lens?
9. How can I schedule a consultation appointment?
10. Tell me more about what I can expect as a new patient.
1. What is the Boston Scleral Lens Prosthetic Device and how
does it work?
The Boston Scleral Lens is an oxygen permeable optical shell that fits
under the lids and over the front surface of the eye. It is designed to
rest entirely on the tough, relatively insensitive white sclera and immerse
the sensitive diseased cornea (the transparent front surface of the eye)
in a pool of artificial tears. The fluid reservoir of the device masks
the distorted surface of the cornea to improve vision and provides a protective
cushion that reduces pain and photosensitivity cause by inflamed and irritated
corneas and dry eyes. Its unequalled rate of success is made possible
by the Foundation’s powerful proprietary on-site computerized design/manufacturing
program developed over the past 17 years that enables our doctors to customize
the shape of each device to the complex shape of the eye being fitted
with exacting precision.
2. Who can be helped by the Foundation's vision-restoring lenses?
Only patients whose eye functions are impaired by damaged/diseased corneas
(other than swollen corneas) are potential candidates. Unfortunately,
contact lenses cannot help people who are suffering from retinal problems
(such as macular degeneration), glaucoma, optic nerve disorders or other
conditions of the interior or back surface of the eye. The fluid reservoir
of the Boston Scleral Lens offers two principle benefits.
1) Optically masks irregularities of the corneal surface
to improve vision in cases of keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration,
Terrien’s marginal degeneration, certain corneal dystrophies, scarred
or irregular corneal surfaces due to injuries, infections or diseases,
following complicated laser procedures or corneal transplants with high
astigmatism, etc.
2) As a therapeutic and protective liquid corneal bandage
in cases of severe surface disorders of the eye:
a. severe dry eyes (Sjogren’s
syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, chronic
graft versus host disease, radiation of the orbit or surgical removal
of the tear gland, idiopathic (cause unknown) etc.
b. damage to the corneal surface
healing mechanisms (stem cells) such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, TEN,
chemical and thermal burn injuries, ocular pemphigoid, aniridia, etc.
c. anesthetic cornea due to neurosurgery,
certain virus infections of the cornea, diabetes, associated with birth
defects (familial dysautonomia, Seckel’s syndrome, as an isolated
finding, etc.)
3) Combinations of 1&2
3. How do I know if I am an appropriate patient?
There are four requirements that must be met for a consultation request
to be considered:
1) Your corneal condition must be significantly disabling.
2) It has not responded adequately to or you are intolerant
of appropriate non-surgical treatments.
3) You must be referred by a doctor.
4) The information we receive should indicate that
there is a high probability that we can help you.
The letter of referral should describe your condition in sufficient detail
to enable us to judge whether you are a candidate for our device. Should
there be any questions regarding your eye condition, we will contact your
doctor directly before recommending that you make an appointment for the
consultation and possible fitting.
4. Has this technology actually been proven?
The Boston Scleral Lens Prosthetic Device was approved by the FDA in 1994
(the only scleral lens to have done so). To date more than 1,000 patients
have been fitted with this device and the results have been published
in leading peer-reviewed medical journals.
5. Why is the Boston Foundation for Sight a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization?
Dr. Rosenthal began the development of this device in 1986 in order to
address what he identified as a dire unmet need. Because the Boston Scleral
Lens has been life-changing for many patients who would otherwise have
no alternatives for recovering vision or finding relief from agonizing
eye pain and photosensitivity, he could not deny these benefits to those
who are unable to pay. Moreover, his personal investment in its development
and the enormous capital expenses required to advance its technology to
its present level could never be recouped as a commercial venture. Our
mission continues to gain strength because of the generosity of the Foundation’s
benefactors.
6. How much does it cost and is it covered by health insurance?
The skill intensive and time consuming process of design customization,
manufacturing and fitting requires an average of five days and the fabrication
of three lenses per eye for average cases and up to several weeks and
numerous lenses in severely scarred eyes such as sometimes seen in Stevens-Johnson
syndrome, TEN and ocular pemphigoid. The global fee of $7,600 for fitting
two eyes, ($5,000 for fitting one eye), is less than our cost. The difference
is made up through our fund-raising efforts.
As the only FDA approved scleral lens and with studies published in the
peer-reviewed medical journals that support its effectiveness, increasing
numbers of health insurers are covering the full global fee. As policy,
the Foundation supports each insurance claim with extensive documentation
and appeals all denials of coverage.
7. If my insurance refuses to cover your fee (or I have no insurance)
and I cannot afford to pay or stay in a hotel/motel room or even travel
to your clinic, how can you help me?
The documentation required for you to qualify for free care is simple
and straightforward. Moreover, if you can’t afford the discounted
hotel rate provided by the Sheraton Needham to our patients (they also
provide free shuttle service to and from our clinic) or lower cost alternatives
(we will provide you with a list), the nonprofit Hospitality Homes will
match you up with a volunteer who will house you at no charge. Moreover,
if travel is too costly for you, we can direct you to another nonprofit
called Angel Flights.
8. Do I have to come to Boston To be fitted with the Boston Scleral
Lens?
Other than the Foundation’s clinics in India, the Boston Scleral
Lens Prosthetic Device is manufacture and fitted only in its facility
in Needham, MA. We are expecting to open the first of a network of affiliated
clinics on the west coast by the end of 2007 followed by one in the southwest
U.S.A. Announcements will be made on this website.
9. How can I schedule a consultation appointment?
In order to determine if a consultation is appropriate, contact Bill Rosenthal,
our New Patient Coordinator, by email (brosenthal@bostonsight.org) or
telephone (781-726-7337, extension 140.) Bill will guide you through the
process of compiling the necessary referral documentation and present
your case to our medical team. He is also available to organize the travel
and lodging logistics for new out-of-town patients.
10. Tell me more about what to expect as a new patient.
Once accepted as a patient at the Boston Foundation for Sight, you will
be scheduled for periods of fitting and training for five days (minimum)
up to two week period depending on the amount of eye scarring present
and the time required for you to master the insertion/removal process.
During this period the interim lenses will be examined repeatedly on your
eye(s) over longer periods of wearing in order to identify the optimal
designs for you. Since these requirements will tether you to the clinic
during the initial phase of the fitting, our new facilities offers our
patients a number of features to make your visit as comfortable as possible.
We have rooms in which you can rest and watch TV, eat and mingle with
other patients (including a full kitchen, refrigerator and dining table)
and a Quiet Room for working, reading, which includes a computer with
internet access and phone for local calls. The lenses are made on site
(you will be given a tour or the manufacturing facility) so custom lenses
can normally be made within one to two hours.
The Boston Foundation for Sight is located in Needham, a small community 10 miles from downtown Boston and 12 miles from the Boston Logan International Airport.
Taxi:
Click Here
for
Massport.com’s
listings of Taxi Services
Fare to Needham Heights from the airport
is roughly $50-$60
Mass Transit:
Taking "The T" is the most affordable way to
get to and from Logan Airport. This is a 2-step process.
Take the MBTA’s Silver Line to South Station from Logan Airport. The Silver Line drops off and picks up in front of the terminals.
Silver Line Links
for Information on the Silver Line
Then take the Needham Commuter Rail Line to Needham Heights Station.
The Needham Heights Commuter Rail Station is 1 block from The Boston Foundation
For Sight.
Click Here
for Needham Line Information
to get from South Station to Needham Heights:
If you are Driving:
Rental Cars:
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for Massport.com’s listings
of Rental car Companies in the Boston area.
Map and Directions:
Click Here for
a map and directions
from Logan International Airport
to Boston Foundation For Sight.
(There is a link at the top of the page
for Reverse Directions)
Travel times can take upwards of 30 minutes
to 1 hour
during rush hour traffic, as there are numerous
highway projects, so plan accordingly.
(Please check with the rental car agency as far as drop
off locations, as sometimes you have to
drive past the airport to drop off the vehicle)
For general information about Logan International Airport
visit: www.massport.com/logan or call
(617) 561-1800, or (800) 23-LOGAN.
Food Services:
BFS
BFS Patients are welcomed to bring their breakfasts, lunches
and snacks to the BFS and use the kitchen and dining facilities.
BFS also provides hot and cold snacks, soft drinks and assorted beverages in our kitchen area.
This option makes sense for many patients,
since there are only a few places to eat within walking distance.
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by Malcolm Grear
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