Patient Resources Archives - BostonSight Scleral

How Long Should a Scleral Lens Last?

October 2, 2024/in Patient Resources, Patient Success/by michele

There are no guarantees how long a patient’s scleral lens will last. Patient care and handling are the most important factors when considering longevity. A retrospective study was conducted at the USC Department of Ophthalmology to determine the average lifespan of a scleral lens. (Ethan Pritikin; Gloria Chiu. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2022; 63(7):551 – A0249.)

“251 patients and a total of 445 eyes were included in the study. The avg lifespan for a scleral lens in the group was 728.4 ± 434.3 days (1.99 ± 1.19 years; min 5 days, max 7.2 yrs). The average duration of care was 2152.0 ± 1033.5 days (5.90 ± 2.83 yrs).

Patients with greater scleral lens experience had a statistically significant increase in their average scleral lifespan; for every one year of additional experience wearing scleral lenses, the average lifespan increased by 1 month (32.1 days) (p = 0.001).” The findings were presented at the 2022 ARVO annual meeting.

Takeaway: While ocular and vision changes may necessitate a scleral lens replacement, patient education around care and handling are paramount to improving scleral lens lifespan.

Read the abstract here: https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2779568

Remember to use of our Patient Resources to ensure your patients care for their lenses properly.

BostonSight SCLERAL Gets Patient to 20/30 Vision and 14-Hour Wear Time

July 16, 2024/in Patient Resources, Patient Success/by michele

Stephanie works as a nurse and needs excellent vision to do her job. But Stephanie has keratoconus, a progressive condition where the cornea thins and bulges outward, forming a cone shape, and causing visual distortion. She was at the point in her disease where she had to close her left eye to focus her right eye on tasks like drawing syringes and inserting intravenous needles.

Stephanie was diagnosed with keratoconus in eighth grade, more than 40 years ago. The condition can be genetic and both Stephanie’s mother and sister have the condition, too.

Starting with RGPs

When she was first diagnosed, scleral lenses were unavailable, so Stephanie was prescribed rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses to help modify the bulging cone shape of her cornea. An RGP lens may be used for keratoconus due to its rigidity. The vision can be corrected by compensating for the distorted cornea because they don’t mold to the cornea like a soft contact lens.

Corneal Cross-linking

She used RGPs until 2017 when her local optometrist referred her to Dr. Scott Drexler, an optometrist in Pennsylvania specializing in corneal diseases. Stephanie was referred to Dr. Drexler for corneal cross-linking (CXL) surgery on her left cornea, which was getting worse. CXL is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure designed to strengthen the cornea and halt the progression of keratoconus. However, due to the severity of her condition, her left eye was inoperable. While her right eye was a good candidate for the procedure, there was concern that Stephanie would be without good eyesight if things went wrong.

Scleral lenses before BostonSight SCLERAL

Once CXL was no longer an option, Dr. Drexler chose to prescribe Stephanie a scleral lens to treat her keratoconus in both eyes. The scleral lens covers more surface area of the eye, resting on the sclera, or ‘white of the eye’, rather than the cornea. This creates a more stable lens that is more comfortable to wear long-term than an RGP lens.

However, the scleral lenses constantly had issues, which prevented Dr. Drexler and Stephanie from reaching the right fit or comfort level. Stephanie spent two years in the fitting process with the same lenses as there were few scleral lens options available at that time.

Success with BostonSight SCLERAL

Then, in 2019, Dr. Drexler switched Stephanie to BostonSight SCLERAL, a newer scleral lens brand, and “that’s where the miracle started,” she says. It took only a few appointments for Stephanie to reach her final fit with BostonSight SCLERAL.

“He got the fit to where it is perfect, close to perfect like no other. I have no fogging and with Hydra-PEG [coating], I am able to see. [Hydra-PEG is a clear coating that covers your lenses. It helps protect the lens making it last longer, and is used to prevent damage, dryness, and fogging from the lens] My first pair of BostonSight SCLERAL lenses was ten times better than the other scleral lenses I was originally fit with. They are perfect.”

Stephanie can wear her BostonSight SCLERAL lenses up to 14 hours a day with no problems. With her lenses, she is 20/30 in her right eye and can see significantly better in her left eye. She no longer needs to use one eye to compensate.

“At work, I had to close my left eye and use my right eye only to focus on what I was looking at. With BostonSight SCLERAL, I can have both eyes open and see. It’s a miracle how much I can see with my BostonSight SCLERAL lenses.”

The Ultimate Guide to Proper Scleral Contact Lens Hygiene

June 6, 2024/in Patient Resources/by michele

This post is a general guideline. Always work with your eye care doctor to ensure you are following the protocols recommended for you.

Scleral lenses have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their ability to provide clear vision and comfort for individuals with certain eye conditions. These lenses cover a larger portion of the eye, resting on the sclera, and are used to correct a variety of vision issues, including astigmatism and keratoconus. However, to ensure the safety and effectiveness of scleral lenses, proper hygiene practices are essential. In this guide, we will highlight the crucial steps for maintaining optimal scleral lens hygiene.

Preparation

Wash Your Hands Thoroughly: Before handling your scleral lenses, it is imperative to wash your hands with a mild, fragrance-free soap. This helps eliminate any potential dirt, oils, or bacteria that may transfer to the lenses and, subsequently, to your eyes. Dry your hands with a lint-free towel to avoid fibers coming into contact with the lenses.
Use a Clean and Controlled Environment: Choose a well-lit, clean, and clutter-free area for handling your scleral lenses. Be sure the surface is dry and that you have all the necessary cleaning and disinfecting solutions within reach. A bathroom counter or a dedicated space in your bedroom can serve as a suitable location. We recommend placing a towel on the surface, that way, if you drop your lens it will be easier to see and less likely to scratch or break.

Cleaning

Cleaning your scleral lenses is a multi-step process involving a variety of solutions. You will need a cleaning/disinfection solution, preservative-free saline, and, if recommended, a general rinsing solution.

Download the Healthy Lens Habits Guide (your doctor can write in the recommended solutions) or Lens Solutions page (your doctor can circle the recommended solutions).
Rub and Rinse: Begin by applying the disinfecting solution recommended by your eye care doctor to rinse off any debris or protein buildup on the lenses. GENTLY rub the lenses with your fingertips, ensuring all surfaces are clean.
Disinfect for 6+ hours: Many eye care doctors recommend disinfecting scleral lenses with a hydrogen peroxide-based solution. Peroxide solutions offer a deep clean, eliminating harmful microorganisms. Follow the specific instructions provided with your peroxide system, ensuring the lenses are neutralized before inserting them into your eyes. It takes 6+ hours minimum for scleral lenses to complete a cleaning and disinfection process.

Insertion

When inserting your scleral lenses, use a preservative-free saline solution to rinse first. This helps ensure that no harsh chemicals or preservatives come into direct contact with your eyes, minimizing the risk of irritation.

Fill the bowl of your scleral lens with preservative-free saline solution only.

Your Lens Case

Regularly clean and replace your lens case to prevent the growth of bacteria. Rinse the case with preservative-free saline solution, air-dry it upside down on a clean tissue, and store it in a cool, dry place.

Regular Check-ups

Schedule regular appointments with your eye care doctor to monitor the health of your eyes and the condition of your scleral lenses. They can guide necessary adjustments to your cleaning routine or lens prescription.

Proper scleral lens hygiene is essential for maintaining eye health and optimizing vision. By following these steps diligently and adhering to the recommendations of your eye care doctor, you can enjoy the benefits of scleral lenses while minimizing the risk of complications. Consistency and attention to detail are key to ensuring a safe and comfortable experience with scleral lenses.

Scleral Lens Application and Removal Guide

March 20, 2024/in Patient Resources/by michele

We now have an Application and Removal Guide to provide to patients. This guide is a supplement to the Healthy Lens Habits Guide. Our goal is to provide the simplest yet most effective education for patients and to provide you with tools to support your success.

Healthy Lens Habits Guide

These miniature guides are shipped with every lens order and provide basic instructions for lens care. The guide includes write-in areas where you can indicate your recommended cleaning and disinfecting solutions for each patient.

Application and Removal Guide

Our newest guide includes lid spread photos and instructions with photos on how to apply lenses with a plunger and without, and how to remove lenses with a plunger and without. We have professionally printed versions of the Application and Removal Guide available for you to provide to your patients. This single-page version folds into a 5.5″ x 8.5″ guide for easy storage. In the meantime, download the 8.5″ x 11″ printable version for office use here.

Scleral Lens Use and Care Guide

We have retired the Scleral Lens Use and Care Guide, which was a lengthy yet comprehensive guide that included application and removal, care, troubleshooting, and more.

As a reminder, all patient guides as well as application and removal videos can be found on the BostonSight SCLERAL website under Patient Resources here.