BostonSight Expands Scleral Lens Portfolio with New Diameter Range

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Adds 16, 16.5, and 17mm Diameters to Provide Practitioners with More Options Needham, Mass. –March 31, 2021 – BostonSight®, a nonprofit eye healthcare organization and research center dedicated to saving sight and improving quality of life for patients, announced today that it has expanded its range of BostonSight SCLERAL lens offerings.  BostonSight SCLERAL lenses are now available in 16mm, 16.5mm, and 17mm diameters in addition to the 18mm, 18.5mm, and 19mm diameters, which were originally introduced in 2017. Each series is part of a “triple-play” FitKit™ diagnostic set, which includes three diameters per set, right and left anatomical designs to address unique scleral shape profiles, and BostonSight SCLERAL’s step-by-step FitGuide™. “Scleral lenses are an effective solution for dry eye disease, keratoconus, corneal damage, and other corneal diseases,” said Sara Yost, BostonSight President and CEO. “BostonSight SCLERAL is a data-driven lens design that provides an efficient and predictable fit. By expanding our product portfolio to include more diameter options, we are empowering practitioners to make the best scleral lens choice for their patients and to find the best fit earlier in their eye health journey.” BostonSight SCLERAL lenses come with a range of SMART features to benefit patients. The “One Lens. Designed Your Way.” model provides practitioners with everything they need to be successful, at an all-inclusive price with no surprise add-on costs.
  • Oval Optic Zones built into the lenses assist with better lens centration and more predictable and reliable fitting endpoints.
  • SplineCurve™ Technology allows for parameter change independence.
  • SmartChannel™ Technology facilitates fitting lenses over anatomical obstacles, promotes tear-exchange, and minimizes suction.
  • SmartSight™ Technology provides superior quantitative and qualitative vision with built-in front surface eccentricity and custom HOA correction.
BostonSight SCLERAL’s lenses have remarkable fitting results.  Ninety percent of fits achieve optimal vision with the built-in SmartSight™ Technology, 75% of fits are achieved with the go-to standard lens from the FitKit™, and 65% of fits don’t require haptic design change. Learn more about BostonSight SCLERAL and register to become a network provider at www.bostonsightscleral.org About BostonSight®   BostonSight has saved the sight of thousands of individuals suffering from ocular surface disease, corneal disease, injury, or damage. Founded in 1992, the Needham, MA, Center of Excellence for PROSE™ Treatment includes a clinic, research center, state-of-the-art FDA-certified and ISO-compliant manufacturing lab, and patient and family support center. BostonSight PROSE™ Treatment is available at top medical centers around the U.S., Canada, and India. BostonSight SCLERAL was launched to expand access to scleral lenses. Eye care practitioners achieve a simple, effective scleral lens fit that provides optimal vision and comfort for patients while attaining long-term eye health.  Lenses are available in North America directly from BostonSight SCLERAL and ABB Optical, and globally through partnerships with Spectrum International in Latin America and L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in the Middle East and India.   Contact: Michele Hart BostonSight (617) 669-4225 mhart@bostonsight.org

Dry Eye Common with Psoriasis Diagnosis

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Autoimmune conditions are now among the most common health diagnoses. Current estimates from the National Institutes of Health suggest that more than 7% of the U.S. population has an autoimmune disease — up to 23.5 million — and that figure continues to rise.

Accompanying ocular issues are not uncommon for many who have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Research has identified dry eye as one of the most common ocular complications in patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis and dry eye

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that triggers the skin to speed up its cellular growth cycle and causes raised, red, scaly patches on the skin. The severity of the disease, as well as involvement of other organ systems, varies for each individual. The eyes are one organ that can be adversely affected, which may result in permanent complications or irreversible vision loss if not treated.

According to recent research, psoriasis may affect the lid, conjunctiva, or cornea resulting in the development of ocular manifestations, including corneal dryness. The study the found prevalence of ocular manifestations in psoriasis patients to be about 70%.

Working with your providers

At BostonSight, we can help many patients whose autoimmune diagnoses adversely affect their ocular surface. The pain, photophobia, and loss of visual acuity that are the hallmarks of dry eye can significantly impact quality of life.

With BostonSight PROSE™ treatment, 77% of patients with dry eye reported significant success. Because of the serious eye complications that can occur with psoriasis or other autoimmune diseases, it is recommended that patients receive a thorough eye exam once per year and that the patient’s health-care team watch for eye involvement and work closely with eye health providers for the most effective disease treatment and management.

This post is part of BostonSight’s archival content and was originally authored by Janice M. Epstein. Content has been updated to be current.  This content is informational in nature and should not be considered medical advice. Please reach out to your medical professional for questions about your vision. 

BostonSight’s Dr. Karen Carrasquillo Appointed to BCLA Global Ambassador Network

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BostonSight is pleased to announce that Dr. Karen Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA has been appointed to a network of 15 global ambassadors through BCLA. Dr. Carrasquillo joins a highly respected network of peers who will support the international contact lens and eye health community. Congratulations, Dr. Carrasquillo!

The press release from BCLA is reposted below: A new network of 15 global ambassadors has been appointed by the BCLA – with the remit of bringing the international contact lens and anterior eye health community closer together than ever before. The group will cover all five continents, ensuring eye care professionals around the world have access to the BCLA’s ever-growing portfolio of learning resources and materials. The 15 ambassadors will all be given the opportunity to play a key role in amplifying the BCLA’s commitment to global knowledge sharing, education and networking. Luke Stevens-Burt, chief executive of the BCLA, said: “Advances in technology mean the world is becoming an ever-smaller place and the BCLA is now a truly global organisation. By putting together this network of some of the leading names in eye health we are ensuring we have the resources to reflect our international appeal. “Our new ambassadors will help us reach an even wider global audience by sharing our news and updates with their professional networks across multiple regions. They will play a key role in bringing research, skills and knowledge development to like-minded professionals with an interest in contact lens and anterior eye care.” Fabrizio Zeri, Daddi Fadel, Jacinto Santodomingo-Rubido and Fernando J Fernandez-Velazquez will cover Europe, while Karen Carrasquillo, Melissa Barnett, Bridgitte Shen Lee, Kurt Moody and Scott Schachter will be responsible for the Americas region. Joserine Samson and David Berkow will cover Africa and the Middle East, with Pauline Cho and Amod Gogate responsible for Asia. Jenni Craig and Nicole Carnt will help to boost the BCLA’s profile in Australasia. Notes to editors • For further information, or to arrange further interviews, please call Daniel Owens from Orange Juice Communications on 07909 916668 or email daniel.owens@ojpr.co.uk

Airline Cabin Air Negatively Impacts Dry Eye: Strategies for Coping

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Many of us travel by plane for business or pleasure. With COVID vaccines ramping up, it’s expected we’ll see airline travel begin to increase soon. If you have dry eye or use BostonSight PROSE devices or scleral lenses, air travel can be challenging due to the recirculated dry cabin air. A little extra planning and preparation before catching a flight can help ensure a safe and comfortable vacation without interruption from eye health concerns.

Impact on your dry eye symptoms

If you have dry eye and have traveled by plane, you probably noticed an impact on your symptoms. A March 2013 study in the Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science journal took a close look at the impact of in-flight cabin air on dry eye disease. Researchers developed a controlled environment to simulate airline cabin conditions (23°C, 5% relative humidity, localized airflow, and 750 mb of barometric pressure) as well as a standard controlled environment for comparison (23°C, 45% relative humidity, and 930 mb). Study subjects with diagnosed dry eye disease spent time in these environments. Before and after the exposures, subjects answered dry eye symptom questionnaires and underwent diagnostic tests to determine the environmental impact on their eyes. After exposure to the airline cabin environment, dry eye patients were more symptomatic and experienced a decrease in tear stability and volume. Based on these findings, researchers advise dry eye patients to use therapeutic strategies to minimize the impact of air travel on their eyes.

Simple strategies

Some suggestions for more comfortable flights are provided by the Dry Eye Zone. In addition to staying hydrated and avoiding alcohol or salty snacks and beverages, these simple strategies can go a long way toward helping you manage eye symptoms during flight:

  • Bring a damp cloth in a sealed plastic bag to use as a compress.
  • Use tranquileyes moisture goggles or a sleep mask when you’re dozing.
  • If you’re reading, working, or watching movies, Onion Goggles may be helpful.

Finally, turn off the air vent over your seat and make sure your eye care supplies are with you in your carry-on luggage and not in your checked bag.

This post is part of BostonSight’s archival content and was originally authored by Janice M. Epstein in August 2015. Content has been updated to be current. This content is informational in nature and should not be considered medical advice. Please reach out to your medical professional for questions about your vision.

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