Click Here to donate to SLS every time you shop on Amazon! |
Scleral Lens Education Society
Board Members:
Fellowship Chair
Justine Siergey, OD, FSLS
International Relations Chair
Langis Michaud OD,MSc, FAAO (Dipl), FSLS
[email protected]
|
|
Diamond Sponsors
|
|
Platinum Sponsors
|
|
|
Silver Sponsors
See all our supporters on our website.
|
|
As we close 2017, we would like to express our sincere thanks to our
generous
sponsors!
You can find their logos on the left below, which are clickable links to their websites. They are happy to help with all of your scleral lens needs.
|
Tips and Tricks for Successful Therapeutic Scleral Lens Wear in Ocular Surface Disease
Presented by Dr. Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS and Dr. John D. Gelles, OD, FIAO, FCLSA
Wednesday, December 13th 7:30-8:30 PM CST
You can also view previous webinars on the
|
Global Specialty Lens Symposium
January 25-28 in Las Vegas
Learn the latest advances in contact lenses!
Please view the GSLS scleral lens track
here
|
|
|
For All Your Holiday Shopping
Don't forget to log onto
smile.amazon.com each time you purchase items from
Amazon. There are no additional charges to your order -
Amazon simply donates to the Scleral Lens Education Society! Thank you for your support!
|
|
Announcing the Newest Scleral Lens Society Fellows!
Please welcome our newest Fellows! These practitioners have demonstrated superior scleral lens expertise and knowledge.
Emily Korszen, OD, FAAO, FSLS
Steven Gutierrez ,OD, MHA, FAAO, FSLS
Nicholas L. Wolf, OD, FSLS
Interested in becoming a fellow?
Click here
to apply for fellowship.
|
|
Scleral Lens Fellow Spotlight
We are thrilled to spotlight SLS Vice President Stephanie Woo, OD, FAAO, FSLS this quarter!
Question: What majority of your practice is specialty lenses? How did you grow this part of your practice?
Answer: I joined a private practice which was all comprehensive exams and medical eye care. There were no specialty contact lens patients at all. It was a very busy practice, averaging about 40-50 patient encounters per day. I was extremely excited to start fitting specialty contact lenses as soon as I started practicing in 2012. By 2016, we had grown the specialty contact lens patient base from essentially zero to over 1000 patients! Most were existing patients, but some were from other MD or OD referrals. In a typical day now, probably 25% of the patients I see each day are specialty lens patients. A large majority of my patients are still comprehensive exams, diabetic exams, medical eye exams, and post operative care. I practice in very rural areas, so we have to manage every
single eye problem that exists.
Question: Is there an aspect of scleral lens fitting that you still struggle with?
Answer: One of our offices does not have a topographer, so it is hard to understand the shape of the eye at this location. I use Dr. Christine Sindt's advice of putting a spherical GP lens on the eye and using that as a diagnostic tool, which has worked great. In the future, I would love to have a topographer at this location. I would also really love a Pentacam to view the posterior surface of the cornea, because we have
many patients with RK scarring, and even with the best scleral lens fit, their visual acuity is sub optimal. I think the labs and fitting sets keep improving their technology, so scleral lens fitting has gotten easier and easier. The advanced designs have streamlined scleral lens fitting for our clinic, and has allowed our process to become extremely efficient.
Question
:
How many visits do you average (and length of time slots) for a new scleral lens fit? Any tips to increase efficiency?
Answer: For a new scleral lens patient, our typical protocol is: 10 minute consultation (topography, specular microscopy, OCT macula, slit lamp, and visual acuity) where the doctor discusses the patient's particular condition and explains a treatment plan. Next is a 1 hour scleral lens fitting. Next is the dispense, which is also about a hour long, which includes training (application/removal/lens care). I typically see patients in 1-2 weeks after the
ir dispense and then the next follow up will depend on the condition being managed. A corneal transplant patient will require more follow up care compared to a high astigmatism patient.
Lens Ordering Advice: I order all of my lenses and consult with all of my labs via email. I hardly ever call (I don't have time to wait or be on hold with my patient load). Emailing also allows me to send videos, topography, and photos of the case so the consultants can see exactly what I am seeing and help make adjustments accordingly. Use your consultants to the max! They are the experts in their lens design, so they can help with any problem you are having!
Thank you Dr. Woo for your sage scleral lens advice!
|
Resources for Scleral Lenses
*New Patient Information Handouts*
Sclerallens.org
has great information for practitioners and patients alike! Printable information, videos, and brochures are available. We have recently updated new patient information handouts on our website:
Also visit the GPLI and I-site websites for valuable scleral lens information.
|
|
Membership allows contact lens fitters access to the practitioner's section of the website that contains scleral lens fitting resources.
One of the most frequent questions we get from members is: "How do I get my name listed in the Fitters section of the website?" To be listed as a Fitter on the website, you must become a Fellow of the SLS.
Optometrists, ophthalmologists, and Fellows of the Contact Lens Society of America (FCLSA) who have proven themselves in the field of scleral lens fitting can apply for status as a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society.
Click here to find out more about becoming a SLS fellow.
|
Have an Interesting Case Report?
If you are a current fellow and have a scleral lens case report that you would be willing to share, please send it to
[email protected]. The case does not have to be a formal report, but is intended for sharing clinical pearls.
These case reports may be featured on our website, social media, and in future newsletters.
|
|
About the SLS
The Scleral Lens Education Society (SLS) is a non-profit organization 501(c)3 commited to teaching contact lens practitioners the science and art of fitting all designs of scleral contact lenses for the purpose of managing corneal irregularity and ocular surface disease. SLS supports public education that highlights the benefits and availability of scleral contact lenses.
|
|
|
