FitAssist Program Supports BostonSight’s Mission to Increase Access to Scleral Lenses

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Program Empowers BostonSight SCLERAL Network Practitioners to Help Patients in Financial Need

Needham, Mass. –December 21, 2021 – BostonSight®, a nonprofit healthcare organization that advances the treatment of diseased or damaged corneas and dry eye, announced that their FitAssist® Program for the BostonSight SCLERAL Network is helping to bring scleral lenses to more patients in need.

BostonSight SCLERAL Network practitioners in the United States and Canada are automatically enrolled in the program when they join the network. For every 12 patients they fit with BostonSight SCLERAL lenses, the practice receives a voucher for a free fitting for one patient in financial need.

“By providing BostonSight SCLERAL Network practitioners with the means to support their patients in financial need, we are supporting our mission to advance the treatment of ocular surface disease and ensure that everyone who needs a scleral lens can get one,” said Sara Yost, BostonSight President and CEO.

To learn more about BostonSight SCLERAL, go to www.bostonsightscleral.org.

About BostonSight®
BostonSight is a nonprofit healthcare organization that advances the treatment of diseased or damaged corneas and dry eye. Our ongoing commitment to research and achieving optimal patient outcomes through innovative scleral lens design, education, and technology have saved the sight of thousands of people around the world. BostonSight PROSE® Treatment is available at top medical centers around the U.S., Canada, and India. BostonSight SCLERAL was launched to expand access to global scleral lens technology. BostonSight SCLERAL has 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

 

 

 

 

How to Put in Eye Drops

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Numerous eye health conditions require treatment with eye drops. Depending on your symptoms and diagnosis, various formulations may be recommended by your healthcare provider. Some eye drops are purchased over-the-counter whereas others require a prescription. While the use of eye drops to treat eye health problems might seem simple at first, many people find the use of eye drops more difficult in practice. Our BostonSight® PROSE patients are more than familiar with these challenges as most first-line treatments for eye conditions require the use of some type of eye drops. In fact, research has shown that even experienced eye drop users often are ineffective with their applications. To best treat your condition, it’s important to use your eye drops as directed by your physician. The National Institutes of Health provides a fact sheet with photos and offers these additional tips to use drops safely and correctly.

Putting in eye drops – tips 

  • Wash your hands before using eye drops, to prevent dirt or germs from getting into your eye.
  • Tilt your head back and gently pull your lower eyelid down. Look up.
  • Hold the bottle close to your eye, but do not let it touch your eye.
  • Squeeze the eye drops into your lower eyelid, again without touching your eye.
  • Let go of your eyelid and close your eyes (do not squeeze them shut).
  • To prevent eye drops from leaking into your nose and throat, gently apply pressure to the inner corner of your eye.
  • Use a clean, separate tissue to blot each eye if needed.
  • Keep your eyes shut for about one to three minutes. The exact amount of time will depend on the medication you are using. You will find more information about this in the package insert.
  • Try using a mirror or lying flat on your back to help get the drop in the eye
  • Try using eye drops while sitting and while lying down, to see whether it is easier for you to apply eye drops in either position.
  • Ask a healthcare provider to watch you administer the drops to verify you are using them correctly.

Assistive devices for putting in eye drops 

Overall health status and other health conditions may add to the complexity of using eye drops. Poor vision, arthritis, tremors, neuropathies, and muscle weakness are just a few examples of physical challenges that further complicate the ability to self-administer eye drops. In these instances, assistive devices may be helpful in overcoming physical limitations. These aids include:
  • tools to provide for better grip and leverage for squeezing the bottle of drops, such as the Autodrop Eye Guide.
  • Tools to help with guiding the drop into the eye, such as the E-Z Drops.
Having trouble keeping your eyelids open when administering eye drops?  You can look for devices that help keep the eyelids open, such as the Autodrop Eye Opener. If you are having difficulty putting in your drops, your healthcare provider or pharmacy can offer advice on which device may help you.

Tracking your eye drop schedule

When multiple types of eye drops are prescribed and need to be used several times during the day, it can be difficult to keep track of which one to use when. A clearly written schedule can assist with tracking usage throughout the day. Another option is an automated reminder on your smartphone, such as the EyeDropsAlarm, which allows you to input different formulations and scheduling and receive reminders when it’s time to use the drops. This app includes step-by-step instructions on how to best put in eye drops and also includes an extensive database of eyedrops to select from so that you don’t have to type in each medication. Please note that BostonSight does not endorse any product mentioned in this blog. Content is provided for informational purposes only. Always speak with your healthcare provider about the best option for you.   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. 

BostonSight PROSE Gives Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Survivor Her ‘Freedom Back’

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For almost 20 years, Lindsay Hendrix’s poor ocular health limited what she could do and where she could go. After surviving toxic epidermal necrolysis (a severe allergic reaction that is fatal to 30% of those who contract it) at age 10, her ability to enjoy life on any given day was dictated by the condition of her eyes.

In grade school, her main symptoms were excessive tearing and severe light sensitivity.

BostonSight PROSE patient, Lyndsey Hendrix

BostonSight PROSE patient, Lindsay Hendrix

“I had a really hard time,” remembers Lindsay. “I had red puffy eyes and looked like I was crying all of the time. I was embarrassed.”

Lindsay tried BostonSight PROSE treatment but, “had a difficult time inserting the prosthetic device, and the idea of shoving a piece of plastic into my irritated eye confused and scared me. Dr. Jacobs and I weighed the pros and cons and decided I didn’t need PROSE yet.”

Despite her challenges, Lindsay earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and joined the adult working world. But her eyes got worse, and around 2014 her symptoms changed.

“My main issue was dryness; it felt like someone was holding a fan in front of my eyeball.”

Her left eye dried out each day, and by early evening it would completely close. Over time, her eye began to close earlier and earlier in the day. Soon Lindsay could no longer drive at night. She began to worry about her future, and the future of her eyes.

When Lindsay became engaged to be married in February 2015, she, like most brides, wanted to look and feel her best for her big day.

“I remember expressing my concerns to Dr. (James) Chodosh:

Would I be able to keep my eyes open on my wedding day?'”

Dr. Chodosh performed a punctal occlusion, but when the dryness returned, he suggested Lindsay give PROSE treatment another try.

Lindsay did, and now she wears a PROSE device in her more symptomatic left eye. She applies the device 2-3 times each day, for several hours at a time. She got the beautiful wedding day she so wanted, and got rid of something even more important – limits.

“I got my freedom back to do whatever I want to do. I can live the way I used to, without having to worry. As long as I have my BostonSight ‘blue bag’ of PROSE supplies, I can go anywhere and do anything!”

Donations to BostonSight for PROSE treatment, which is provided to those in financial need, may be made at www.bostonsight.org/donate.