Michelle Thezin Kong, OD, Joins BostonSight as PROSE Provider

Will expand capacity at the BostonSight Needham PROSE Clinic Needham, Mass. –February 3, 2026.  BostonSight® announced today that Michelle Thezin Kong, OD, has joined BostonSight as its newest PROSE® Provider.  Dr. Kong joins existing PROSE Providers, Drs. Bita Asghari, Karen Carrasquillo, Alan Kwok, and Chirag Patel. Dr. Kong received her Doctor of Optometry from the University of California (UC) Berkeley and completed her residency with programs at the New England College of Optometry, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, BostonSight, and Andover Optometry on Central.  Dr. Kong also completed clinical internships at the California School for the Blind, UC Berkeley Meredith Morgan Eye Center, the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and West Oakland Health Center. Most recently, she practiced at Atrius Health, where she fit patients with specialty lenses. “Welcoming Dr. Kong to our clinical team is incredibly exciting for BostonSight and for the patients we serve,” said Sara Yost, President and CEO of BostonSight. “By expanding our team, we’re able to meet the increasing demand for our specialized care, and Dr. Kong’s impressive training reflects the deep commitment to excellence in patient care that defines BostonSight.” Dr. Kong is a GPLI Resident Advisory Board Member and is fluent in English and Burmese. About BostonSight® BostonSight is a nonprofit eye healthcare organization that advances the treatment of irregular corneas and ocular surface disease through specialty lenses. Our ongoing commitment to research and achieving optimal patient outcomes via innovative specialty lens designs, education, and technology has saved the sight of [...]

2026-01-26T13:54:15-05:00February 3, 2026|Press Release, PROSE|
Read More

Current Scleral Lens Solution Shortages and Alternatives

updated November 11, 2025 Recalls AvKare Eye Drops; Read here. Nutrifill Lots HFH, HGC, HGI, HGN, HKF, and HKK; Read here: https://contamacsolutions.com/pages/public-notice-recall  Discontinued Lens Fresh Miraflow Available Disinfection Clear Care Hydrogen Peroxide 3% with ClearCare catalyst Daily Cleaner: Boston Simplus Unique pH Tangible Clean Filling Solutions: ScleralFil AddiPak LacriPure PuriLens Plus Rinsing Only Solutions: B+L Sensitive Eyes Saline

2025-11-11T12:18:18-05:00November 11, 2025|PROSE, Blog Posts|
Read More

How Scleral Lenses Helped an ALS Patient Maintain Communication

Meet Jacob When 23-year-old Jacob Harper from Winfield, West Virginia, first heard the words “You have ALS,” in March 2022, he and his father sat in shock. Neither had a clear understanding of what the diagnosis meant. His mother, however, turned pale—she knew the weight of those three letters. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a relentless disease. For Jacob, it was not just ALS but an ultra-rare genetic version, linked to the P525L FUS mutation. Doctors told him to expect only one to three years. Jacob, once an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and working as a machinist and a welder, suddenly faced a future of increasing paralysis and loss. Yet, through determination, faith, and access to an experimental drug called ION363—nicknamed “Jacifusen”—he has lived beyond those initial predictions. Even as the disease advanced, Jacob and his family found new ways to fight for quality of life. One of the most unexpected breakthroughs came not from a drug or machine, but from a pair of lenses. Losing the ability to communicate As ALS progressed, Jacob eventually lost the ability to move his eyes. He could no longer blink, and his eyelids wouldn’t stay open. Severe dry eye followed, leaving his eyes painfully irritated and threatening to take away his ability to watch television, enjoy car rides, or even communicate. At times, his parents resorted to using cosmetic tape to hold his eyelids open. It was an exhausting, imperfect solution that underscored how fragile his remaining independence had become. [...]

2025-09-22T13:33:29-04:00September 22, 2025|Patient Stories, Blog Posts, PROSE|
Read More

The Latest Research and Advances in Sjögren’s Treatment

*This article is a guideline only and not to be construed as medical advice. Always contact your eye care doctor with questions and for recommended treatment options. This article was updated on June 16, 2025 to reflect the change from Sjogren's Syndrome to Sjogren's disease. Sjögren’s disease (or Sjögren's Syndrome), a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting millions worldwide, primarily targets the body's moisture-producing glands, leading to symptoms such as dry eyes and mouth. In recent years, groundbreaking research and significant strides have been made in treating Sjögren’s, offering hope to those living with this challenging condition. Here, we outline some of the latest research and advances in Sjögren’s disease treatment, shedding light on promising developments that could revolutionize patient care. Biological Therapies: Unveiling Precision Medicine  Cutting-edge research in Sjögren’s disease treatment has paved the way for personalized approaches, specifically targeting the underlying immune system dysfunction. Biological therapies, also known as biologics, are designed to modify the immune response at a molecular level. These therapies aim to address the root cause of Sjögren’s disease, providing a more targeted and efficient treatment option. B-cell Targeted Therapies: Navigating the Immune System  Recent studies have focused on the role of B-cells in Sjögren’s disease, leading to the development of B-cell targeted therapies. Medications such as rituximab, which depletes B-cells, have shown promise in reducing symptoms and improving overall quality of life for patients. This breakthrough offers a new avenue for treatment, especially for those who have not responded well to traditional approaches. Neurostimulation: Pioneering Innovative [...]

2025-06-16T13:01:26-04:00June 16, 2025|PROSE|
Read More

Case Report on Therapeutic Scleral Lens Use for KID Syndrome

BostonSight PROSE Provider, Dr. Bita Ashgari, along with co-author Dr. Melynda Gagliardi recently published a case report in the American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports titled "Two cases of therapeutic scleral lenses for KID syndrome." Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome is a rare disorder that typically presents with eye problems, including keratitis, as well as skin abnormalities and hearing loss. Keratitis - inflammation of the cornea - can cause pain, photophobia, neovascularization, and scarring. Over time, those with KID may experience vision loss and in some cases, blindness. Limited therapeutic options exist for ocular surface disease management in patients with KID. The report evaluated two patients with KID who used PROSE devices to manage OSD. Read the full report here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451993625000143

2025-01-24T10:56:29-05:00January 24, 2025|Blog Posts, PROSE|
Read More

BostonSight Team Publishes Peer-Reviewed Study on Efficacy of Scleral Lenses for Pediatric Patients

A team of researchers led by Dr. Karen Carrasquillo, BostonSight's Senior Vice President of Consultation and Professional Affairs, published a retrospective study in December in the journal Clinical Optometry.  The study titled "Pediatric Scleral Lenses: 21-Year Retrospective Review" supports scleral lenses as an efficacious treatment option for this unique patient population. Typical challenges for discontinuing lens wear in this population can include the application and removal of the lenses, however, the study found that larger-sized (diameter) lenses did not impede successful lens wear. The study reported that "scleral lenses are a therapeutic treatment option in pediatric ocular surface disease and provide statistically significant VR in both OSD and IC/refractive conditions." Complete authorship includes Dr. Kellen Riccobono, Dr. Jennifer Liao, Yueming Shi, Dr. Bita Asghari, Dr. Dan Brocks, Estelle Crowley, and Buddika Peiris. The full study can be found online at https://www.dovepress.com/pediatric-scleral-lenses-21-year-retrospective-review-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTO          

2025-01-08T09:41:05-05:00January 2, 2025|PROSE, Blog Posts|
Read More

Using PROSE as a Drug Delivery Device

BostonSight's research team published a ground-breaking study -  “Utilizing PROSE as a Drug Delivery Device for Preservative-Free Cyclosporine 0.05% for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease: A Pilot Study” in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology. In the study, researchers utilized PROSE as a drug delivery device for preservative-free cyclosporine 0.05% for the treatment of dry eye disease. To our knowledge, this report is the first to ever describe a prospective clinical trial utilizing a pharmaceutical in this manner. This study sets forth the template, concepts, and questions that are open to further investigation in this exciting area of drug delivery. Ultimately, in the future, we hope this concept and research will lead to an additional ocular management strategy that will utilize the PROSE and SCLERAL platforms as drug delivery devices to open new avenues to improve ocular health and to improve the lives of our patients. The study authors include staff from BostonSight, Tufts University School of Medicine, and the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI): Monica Nabil Nakhla, Ria Patel, Estelle Crowley, Yichen Li, Thelge Buddika Peiris, and Daniel Brocks.

2024-11-16T10:16:47-05:00November 8, 2024|Blog Posts, SCLERAL, PROSE|
Read More

Transforming Corneal Care with Dr. Dan Brocks

Dr. Dan Brocks joined the OIS podcast with host Dr. Robert Rothman to discuss the unique PROSE lenses that are redefining corneal care and how BostonSight’s nonprofit mission is making advanced treatments accessible to more patients. Key takeaways include: 🔹PROSE Lenses: Customized scleral lenses that protect, hydrate, and restore vision for complex eye conditions. 🔹Increased Accessibility: BostonSight’s new tech-driven approach to simplify lens fitting for broader use. 🔹Mission-Driven Impact: How BostonSight reinvests revenue to offer free care and support for patients in need. Listen to the podcast here.

2024-11-01T13:47:17-04:00November 1, 2024|Blog Posts, PROSE|
Read More

Dr. Dan Brocks Featured Expert in First for Women Article on Wearing Contact Lenses in the Shower

Dr. Dan Brocks, BostonSight's Chief Medical Officer, is a featured expert in an article for First for Women, a lifestyle magazine.  Titled "Can You Shower With Contacts? How to Protect Your Vision and Prevent Infections," Dr. Brocks shares important information about the dangers of water and contact lenses: “Water can harbor dangerous bacteria, including a very destructive organism called acanthamoeba,” explains Dan Brocks, MD, chief medical officer at BostonSight. “If the bacteria or parasites get trapped underneath your contact lens, you could end up with a serious eye infection [called acanthamoeba keratitis] that has a high risk of causing blindness.” Read the full article here.

2024-11-13T12:36:24-05:00November 1, 2024|Blog Posts, SCLERAL, PROSE|
Read More
© Copyright 2026 | All Rights Reserved | BostonSight
Go to Top