Does this sound right for a Sclerals lens?

[badyellowvette]

Finally got referred to a eye Doctor in Pittsburgh by my eye lid surgeon that can fit the Sclerals lens. Called to make an appointment and was told that it takes 6 months of trial and error with temporary lenses to get the right fit. First appointment and consultation was $250 and the cost of the trial fittings and final lens is $2000, replacement lens would be $500. I know my insurance will not pay for any of it, maybe the first appointment.

Just wondering if that price sounds right. Money isn't really the big problem, it's the 3 1/2 hour drive one way for the fittings, for 6 months.

[saralynn143]

My lens was around $750 and the fitting about $300. I don't know what a replacement lens would cost, but I assume it would be $750. My insurance company denied coverage and turned down my appeal.

It took two lenses and six fittings over a four-month period to get my lens right. I think you should be able to find a practitioner closer than a 3.5 hour drive. I wrote a weblog post about my experience that you can read at http://www.sarahartman.com/the-eyes-have-it/ - there is a list of scleral lens manufacturers at the end that you can contact to find a practitioner in your local area.

Feel free to send me a PM for more information.

Best wishes,
Sara

[badyellowvette]

Thanks Sara, I thought that price I was quoted sounded kind of high. Going to go through the list to see what I can find. Problem is I am too far from anything.

[Jill Marie]

I looked back through some of the posts to see what you have posted before as I remember reading some posts from you but couldn't find any in reference to the scleral lens.  Not sure how many posts you have read so will do a bit of a recap for you. 

If you are set on getting a scleral lens then going with what Sara Lynn has posted and given you links for is the way to go.  If however you want to try something else and can find an eye doctor less than 3 1/2 hours away you could give the gas permeable lens a try.  My lens is like the scleral lens but not quite as big, got fitted the first day and only costs $250.  I've spent a bit on appointments trying other lenses but always came back to the first lens she fitted me for.  I'm more than willing and more than happy to give the eye doctor a chance to experiment with me so she can learn more about helping people that have similar eye issues.  Just a thought!  Let us know how your lens quest is going!  Jill

[KBL]

Hi,
My Dr. tried several size lens on me at my fitting and we got it right the first time.  The ones we ordered are the ones I'm wearing.  I went back twice after getting them to recheck the fit and to see if my vision changed with wearing then a couple weeks.  My understanding is your eyes can change in the first few weeks.  If they would have had to change  my perscripition so soon, the new lens would have been free.  I paid $600 for the fitting and $800 for the lens.  Follow up appointments were free.  My insurance company paid around $600 of my bill.  I have been very happy with my lens.  My eye is so much more comfortable and with them my vision is very clear.  My distance vision is more clear wearing them than it is with perscription glasses. I love the lens.   Karen

[Cheryl C]

Thank you for addressing this topic.  I've been reading these posts and trying to decide whether to consider getting a scleral lens.  The distance I would have to travel is at least 4 1/2 hours and I was told I would need to be there a week and see the doctor twice a day during that time (after the fitting).  I don't know if my eye is severe enough -- I don't have feeling in it so I just keep it lubricated every 2 hours or so.  At night I cover it with Glad Cling Wrap.   I have a small damaged area of my cornea, which necessitated a platinum weight and partial tarrosorophy four years ago, and the dread of upsetting the "status quo" once again is hard to overcome.  I'm glad to know there might be an option with a gas permeable lens.  I know this sounds dumb, but can any ophthalmologist perform this or should it be a specialist?  Also, is there a noticeable change in looks when wearing the larger scleral lens? 

I appreciate your input.
Cheryl C

[KBL]

The Dr. who fitted my lens is not a specialist, but she had experience with these lens.  There is no change in your looks while wearing the lens.  The Dr. tried to fit me with the lens when I still had a gold weight in my eye lid and the lens did not work for me because the weight was putting some pressure on my eye, so it was not comfortable. (I was wearing the heaviest weight they make.)   We did not find the 2 to be compatible.  Since it seemed my paralysis was improved a great deal we thought my lid would shut without the weight, so I had it removed.  Indeed my lid shuts on its own now, but I still do not produce tears, so the contact lens works great for me.  If anyone out there has a eye weight and the lens, please comment since this is just my experience.

[Cheryl C]

Thanks for the feedback, Karen.  All info is welcome at this point!

[saralynn143]

I have both an eyelid implant and a scleral lens with no problems. I also have the heaviest possible platinum weight (1.8 grams).

Also, about appearance. My sister tells me that since I started wearing the scleral lens my overall appearance is much improved. I think that is due to less mental fatigue in dealing with blurred vision.

Cheryl C, where would you go for the lens? It sounds like you are looking at one of the truly customized lenses.

[Cheryl C]

Saralynn,
I am in a small northeast Texas town and have had all my AN related issues taken care of in Dallas, which is about 2 1/2 hours away.  For eye maintenance I have an opthalmologist here who is in contact with the eye surgeon who placed my eye weight.  I was the one who brought up the scleral lens at my last opthalmological visit  because I had seen your original post and was curious.  He was intrigued, spoke to a cornea specialist in Dallas and was told we should contact Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, which would be the closest provider to me.  As far as I can tell, this is a Boston Foundation for Sight location for a PROSE lens.  I just assumed this was the only scleral lens there is.  Now I'm guessing there are other options?  I have since seen the post about a gas permeable lens which I want to research. 
  As I said, I'm not sure my corneal issues are severe enough.  I do have blurry vision in that eye that seems to be worse in winter.  In the warmer months (which we have many in East Texas!) my vision is fairly clear.  My eye sometimes closes completely.  The nerves seem to be regenerating VERY slowly, but progressing all of the time.   
Have a great day!
Cheryl C

[saralynn143]

Cheryl, there is a list of different scleral lenses listed at the end of my weblog post that is cited earlier in this thread. Most are quite a bit less expensive than the Boston lens. Also note that optometrists are more likely than ophthalmologists to fit sclerals. It makes sense that your eyesight is blurrier in the winter because the air is dryer.

[badyellowvette]

Finally tracked down a Doctor that fits the Scleral lens. First apointment is tomorrow 1/31/2014. Almost 2 hours away to the main office for first fitting but can do follow-ups in their local office 30 miles away. Hope it works with the 3g of weight they now have in my lid to make it close.
Can't wait for some sweet relief for this 29 year battle with dry eye, I hope!

If anybodys looking for someone that fits the Scleral lens in central Pennsylvania.

http://www.laureleye.com/

[Jill Marie]

Looking forward to hearing how the fitting went!  Can't wait to hear how much you like the lens and the "SWEET" relief you get! So very glad you found a doctor to help you.    Jill

[badyellowvette]

Well, had my apointment today, lens felt awful. They seemed to know what they were doing. Tried 3 different lens and they identified the problems I was having those 3 lens and ordered the correct lens to fit my eye. I guess my cornea is pretty flat from Lasik surgery in 1998. One week to ten day we will see what happens.
I thought the price was good $100 for the fitting and $250 for the lens and if wanted a extra lens for $125.

[saralynn143]

Hope it works out for you. Let us know. I have flat corneas from LASIK as well. Next time I see my optometrist I am going to ask about the Synergeyes hybrid lenses that are gas permeable with a soft skirt in the hopes that they are more comfortable. If not on my dry left eye then on the right side.