BostonSight Receives MMAP Grant to Expand and Automate Scleral Lens Manufacturing

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michele Hart
BostonSight
mhart@bostonsight.org

Needham, Mass. –September 26, 2023 – BostonSight®, a nonprofit healthcare organization that advances the treatment of diseased and damaged corneas and dry eye, announced it has received a $200,000 manufacturing grant from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program (MMAP) to advance its scleral lens manufacturing capabilities.

The MMAP grant program is managed by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech (CAM) and helps small to medium-sized manufacturers in Massachusetts scale their businesses to compete in the modern manufacturing economy.

The grant funds are awarded based on several criteria, including demonstration of operational improvements and efficiencies and the ability to reach new markets and customers.  Out of more than 60 applicants, BostonSight was one of 11 who received funding.

With the grant, BostonSight will purchase a new DAC ALM lathe with a Universal 1000 Autoloader. The Autoloader is a robotic assembly system that automates loading the plastic buttons that are cut and shaped to create custom PROSE® devices and BostonSight SCLERAL lenses at BostonSight’s manufacturing lab in Needham, Massachusetts. PROSE devices and BostonSight SCLERAL lenses are rigid gas-permeable contact lenses that save sight, improve visual acuity, and reduce pain in people with dry eye, damaged corneas, and ocular surface diseases.

“We are thrilled to receive these funds from MMAP,” said Sara Yost, BostonSight CEO and President. “By adding an Autoloader to BostonSight’s production line, we will enhance our capabilities through innovative, emerging technology, streamline our manufacturing processes, and expand our manufacturing capacity to deliver PROSE devices and BostonSight SCLERAL lenses to all who can benefit from this life-changing treatment. BostonSight has always been ‘patient-first’ and this improvement in efficiency directly benefits patients.”

The Autoloader will be the first of its kind to enter BostonSight’s manufacturing facility. It will extend the daily runtime of the lathe, increasing BostonSight’s manufacturing capacity to meet increasing year-over-year demand. It will also allow lab technicians to focus on more intricate phases of the manufacturing process, increasing their skill level and, overall, advancing operational capability.

In addition to providing capital, the MMAP program creates partnerships between manufacturers and area nonprofits. Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership has been partnered with BostonSight to provide technical support and business connections to drive efficiencies and scale its business.

About the Mass. Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech
The mission of the Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) is to foster the most complete, collaborative and agile manufacturing ecosystem, to enable business growth from innovation through production. The CAM is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), a public economic development agency tasked with supporting business formation and growth in the Commonwealth’s tech and innovation sectors. CAM provides a path for manufacturing growth through a connected, accessible ecosystem that supports innovation, workforce development, and a business-friendly environment. CAM manages programs including the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), the MassBridge manufacturing training program, and the MassMakes portal. Learn more at https://cam.masstech.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 has saved the sight of thousands of people around the world. PROSE® is our medical treatment for the most severe or challenging ocular surface disease cases, delivered via specially trained eye care professionals at top tertiary eye centers. BostonSight SCLERAL® is our commercially available scleral lens used by optometrists worldwide. BostonSight SCLERAL has partnerships with Spectrum International in Latin America, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in the Middle East and India, and Conóptica in Europe. Learn more at www.bostonsight.org.

BostonSight Holds Fifth Annual FitAcademy Retreat for Cornea and Contact Lens Residents

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michele Hart
BostonSight
(617) 669-4225
mhart@bostonsight.org

Needham, Mass. –September 19, 2023 – BostonSight®, a nonprofit eye healthcare organization that advances the treatment of diseased and damaged corneas and dry eyes held their annual FitAcademy™ Retreatfor Residents at New England College of Optometry (NECO) in Boston, September 15-16, 2023.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of this free event for emerging clinicians in cornea and contact lens residencies and fellowships at schools and colleges of optometry and accredited fellowship sites throughout the United States and Canada.

FitAcademy was held at NECO’s Clinical Training Center, where residents learned about scleral lens fitting and assessment, how to manage and co-manage a range of corneal and ocular surface disorders, including dry eye disease and keratoconus, and scleral lens application and removal techniques. In addition to the educational component, FitAcademy’s intimate setting provides residents with a unique opportunity to collaborate with fellow residents, strengthening their professional connections as they begin their careers.

FitAcademy 2023 residents and faculty group photo in conference rom

This year, 29 cornea and contact lens residents attended in person for the full curriculum, which included a hands-on wet lab training. Thanks to funding from BostonSight and support from sponsors, students attend FitAcademy for free.

“We are incredibly grateful for our sponsors, the John W. Henry Family Foundation, NECO, Glaukos Corporation, Contamac, and Tangible Science,” said Dr. Karen G. Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, BostonSight’s Senior VP of Clinical and Professional Affairs and director of the FitAcademy program. “Their support and collaboration allow us to provide scleral lens education to emerging clinicians and future key opinion leaders, as the need for specialty lenses continues to grow.”

“The educational program of FitAcademy offers our Cornea and Contact Lens residents skills to be life-changing providers for their future patients,” shares Dr. Jennifer Liao Assistant Professor of Optometry at NECO and Attending Optometrist at NECO Center for Eye Care. “Not only do residents learn creative techniques in fitting scleral lenses, they also learn skills to manage patients with complex ocular diseases from experts in this specialty. It is a scleral lens educational program unlike any other.”

FitAcademy is led by Dr. Carrasquillo and taught by BostonSight staff Dr. Bita Asghari, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Associate Director of Clinical Education; Dr. Chirag Patel, OD, FAAO, Associate Director of Innovative Technologies; Dr. Alan Kwok, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Director of PROSE® Network Clinical Relationships; and Dr. Daniel Brocks, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Cornea Specialist.  The renowned invited faculty include Clark Chang, OD, MSA, MSc, FAAO of Wills Eye Hospital; John D. Gelles, OD, FIAO, FCLSA, FSLS, FBCLA of the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute-Hersh Vision Group and the CLEI Center for Keratoconus; Daddi Fadel, DOptom, FSLS, FBCLA, FAAO of the Center for Ocular Research and Education (CORE); Chantelle Mundy, OD, FSLS, FFAO of The Ohio State University College of Medicine; Anita Gulmiri, OD, FAAO of NECO and Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, and Jennifer Liao, OD, FAAO, FSLS of NECO.

Learn more about FitAcademy at https://www.bostonsight.org/practitioners/education/fitacademy/

 

About NECO

New England College of Optometry is a private, nonprofit, and internationally recognized optometry school. We prepare the next generation of eye care providers, educators, and innovators through rigorous curriculum, extensive clinical experiences, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong support network. As an independent optometry school, we focus solely on optometry. Founded in 1894, NECO is the oldest continuously operating optometry school in the U.S. and has been advancing optometric education ever since.

About Glaukos
Glaukos is transforming the standard of care for patients with progressive keratoconus and other corneal ectatic conditions through our commitment to addressing important unmet clinical needs in corneal health. With inspired innovation, a customer-centric focus, and prolific market access capabilities, we are in the constant pursuit of developing proven solutions in corneal health that empower eye care professionals to deliver optimal care for patients. Learn more at www.glaukos.com.

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 has saved the sight of thousands of people around the world. PROSE® is our medical treatment for the most severe or challenging ocular surface disease cases, delivered via specially trained eye care professionals at top tertiary eye centers. BostonSight SCLERAL® is our commercially available scleral lens used by optometrists worldwide. BostonSight SCLERAL has partnerships with Spectrum International in Latin America, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in the Middle East and India, Conóptica in Europe, and Moorfields Eye Hospital in the UK.  Learn more at www.bostonsight.org.