What to ask your doctor about your corneal health.
Use this simple checklist to bridge the gap from your primary eye doctor to a corneal specialist, including BostonSight. You can download a PDF version of this checklist here.
Before Your Appointment: Track Your Symptoms
“My eyes hurt” is too broad for a diagnosis. Document the specifics:
The Visual Impact List: Note how your symptoms affect your life. (e.g., “I can only drive for 10 minutes before my vision blurs,” “I cannot use a computer for more than an hour.”)
Track Triggers: Note if your pain/redness is worse in the morning, evening, or in specific environments, like air conditioning.
Failed Treatments Log: List every drop, ointment, or warm compress you have tried and for how long. Specialists need to know what hasn’t worked.
Red Flags Note: If you have experienced sudden light sensitivity, “foreign body” sensation that won’t go away, or cloudiness, put these at the top of your list.
During Your Appointment: Ask for the Referral
If your current treatment has stalled, use these talking points to request a corneal specialist:
Inquire About Specialized Exam: Ask, “I’m interested in what tests we are doing to evaluate my cornea health- do we already do Fluorescein staining, TBUT (Tear Break-Up Time) and other tests? What do they show?”
The “Standard of Care” Question: If a new drop is suggested, ask: “Is this a temporary fix, or is it time to see a corneal specialist to address the underlying surface disease?“”
The Direct Ask:“I feel my condition is complex and impacting my quality of life. I would like a referral to a corneal specialist for further evaluation.
The Insurance Link: Ask the office staff, “Do I need a formal written referral for my insurance to cover a visit to a specialist, or can I self-refer?”
After Your Appointment: Secure the Specialist Visit
Confirm the Referral: Call the specialist’s office 48 hours later to ensure they received your records and the referral from your primary doctor.
Request “Stat” Records: Ask your primary doctor’s office to send your most recent slit-lamp exam notes and any topography maps to the specialist before your arrival.
The “Waiting List” Hack: Specialist wait times can be long. Ask to be put on their cancellation list to get an earlier opening.
https://www.bostonsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Corneal-Health-Advocacy-e1790777814254.png720958michele/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bostonsight-logo.svgmichele2026-09-30 10:07:102026-09-30 10:17:18My Corneal Health Advocacy Checklist
Needham, Mass. –September 29, 2026 – BostonSight®, a nonprofit eye healthcare organization, held its 8th annual FitAcademy® Retreat for Cornea and Contact Lens Residents and Fellows at New England College of Optometry (NECO) in Boston, September 11-12, 2026.
FitAcademy for Residents is a core component of BostonSight’s educational arm as BostonSight continues to expand access to scleral lenses and clinical care training around the world. This year, 28 cornea and contact lens residents and fellows from sites throughout the United States and Canada attended the event, which focused on strategies to fit and troubleshoot scleral lenses, and centered on a staple of FitAcademy programs – the importance of the eye’s physiological function and the Beyond the Fit® medical management of the scleral lens patient. The retreat also included a hands-on wet lab and scleral lens application and removal training.
“Our sponsors allow us to host this event at little to no cost to the attendee and for that we’re extremely grateful. Thank you to NECO, Glaukos Corporation, Lenz Therapeutics, Contamac, Tangible Science, John and Linda Henry and the Boston Red Sox, and Evan J. Haberman,” said Karen G. Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, BostonSight’s Chief Innovation and Education Officer and founder and director of FitAcademy programs. “Their support demonstrates their commitment to early career education for specialty lens optometrists and positively impacting patient outcomes.”
FitAcademy is led by Dr. Carrasquillo and was taught this year by BostonSight staff Bita Asghari, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Associate Director of Education; Michelle Kong, OD; Chirag Patel, OD, FAAO, Director of Innovative Technologies; and Daniel Brocks, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Cornea Specialist. The invited faculty included Gloria Chiu, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the USC Roski Eye Institute; Clark Y. Chang, OD, MSA, MSc, FAAO, FSLS, Director of Specialty Contact Lenses in Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital and Senior Director of Medical and Surgical Operations at EssilorLuxottica ; Rutvi Doshi, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Global Medical Director for Cornea at Glaukos; Anita Gulmiri, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Associate Medical Director Lenz Therapeutics and Adjunct Faculty at NECO; and Jennifer Liao, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Associate Professor of Optometry and Residency coordinator of the Cornea and Contact Lenses Residency Program at 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 (www.glaukos.com) is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for the treatment of glaucoma, corneal disorders, and retinal diseases. Glaukos first developed Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) as an alternative to the traditional glaucoma treatment paradigm, launching its first MIGS device commercially in 2012. In 2024, Glaukos commenced commercial launch activities for iDose® TR, a first-of-its-kind, long-duration, intracameral procedural pharmaceutical designed to deliver 24/7 glaucoma drug therapy inside the eye for extended periods of time. Glaukos also markets the only FDA-approved corneal cross-linking therapy utilizing a proprietary bio-activated pharmaceutical for the treatment of keratoconus, a rarely diagnosed corneal disorder. Glaukos continues to successfully develop and advance a robust pipeline of novel, dropless platform technologies designed to meaningfully advance the standard of care and improve outcomes for patients suffering from chronic eye diseases.
About BostonSight® BostonSight is a global eye healthcare nonprofit advancing specialty lens care in service of patients and the professionals who care for them. Our ongoing commitment to research and achieving optimal patient outcomes via innovative specialty lens designs, education, and technology has saved the sight of thousands of people around the world. Learn more at www.bostonsight.org
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
