A Few Words about Specialty Lenses

Over the years I have received many inquiries from prospective patients about specific lens designs. Most of the inquiries come from patients who have suffered vision loss due to keratoconus, corneal transplant surgery, refractive eye surgery such as LASIK and RK, chronic dry eye, ocular trauma and ocular disease.

One must understand that there are many different lens technologies available to treat these conditions. For example, Synergeyes, the manufacturer of the hybrid lens, makes a number of hybrid lens designs, each one designed for a specific ocular condition. In the Rose K family of lenses, there also exists a number of gas permeable lens designs created to address specific corneal conditions. The same can be said for a large number of soft lens designs and gas permeable scleral lens designs.

I approach the selection, design and use of these lenses as an art form. What will work well on one patient's eye may not work well on another patient. Each lens technology is a tool or instrument that I use to improve vision and ocular comfort. Within each specific lens design there are fine details that the patient may not be aware of. For example, lenses can be made from different polymers, each polymer having a specific characteristic. Most of our lenses, especially our scleral lenses are made with five or more different curvatures with varying diameters. Any one or all of these lens parameters can be changed as needed during the initial fitting procedure or at any one of the subsequent follow-up visits.

Every patient is unique and has vision demands unique to that individual. In addition, every eye is different. Many patients have lost vision and comfort due to LASIK and R-K. Other patients have undergone corneal transplant surgery and have irregular dry corneas. Yet still others have lost vision and ocular comfort due to ocular disease or trauma. Every patient is carefully examined by me. After this is done, a decision will be made as to what lens technology will be best suited to restore quality vision and comfort once again. It is important to understand that the fitting procedure is a process. After the lenses are dispensed, careful examinations are done on the follow-up visits. At any of these follow-up visits, small adjustments to the lens design may need to be done. It is imperative for both the doctor and patient to have patience with the process.

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"People who say it can't be done
shouldn't interrupt the guy doing it."
-- Roger D. Davis, PhD

Dr. Boshnick on CBS This Morning


See Dr. Boshnick and Dr. Morris Waxler (former FDA chief research scientist on refractive surgery) talk about bad LASIK