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"CONTACTS"

BUILDING YOUR PRACTICE 
WITH 
GP AND CUSTOM SOFT
CONTACT LENSES


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This weeks newsletter will focus on the exceptional webinar entitled: “Management of the Scleral Lens Ocular Surface Disease Patient" presented by Dr. Karen Carrasquillo. This topic is a very important one today. The SCOPE study (1) found that one in six scleral lenses being fit today are patients exhibiting some form of ocular surface disease. Certainly it can be argued that this percentage should be higher.
 
Dr. Carrasquillo received her doctor of philosophy degree in chemistry and that was followed by the completion of a
post-doctoral research fellowship in ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School. She received her doctor of optometry degree, followed by a residency specializing in cornea and specialty contact lenses, at the New England College of Optometry.

It was at that time – some 15 years ago – when she literally jumped on my radar as she was under the tutelage of Dr. Marjorie Rah who at that time – along with Dr. Jeff Walline – represented perhaps the 2 leading clinical researchers in the world on CL wear in young people.
 
She is currently VP of clinical and professional affairs at BostonSight(R) and an adjunct clinical professor at the New England College of Optometry and the School of Optometry, MCPHS University. She has been a true innovator in modern scleral contact lens design and their applications, including ocular surface disease. 

(1) Nau CB, Harthan J, Shorter E, et al. Demographic Characteristics and Prescribing Patterns of Scleral Lens Fitters: The SCOPE Study. Eye Contact Lens. 2018;Sep;44 Suppl 1:S265-S272


EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT:


"Management of the Scleral Lens Ocular Surface Disease Patient"




Karen Carrasquillo OD, PhD, FBCLA, FAAO, FSLS




In this presentation, archived under the “webinar” tab on www.gpli.info, Dr. Carrasquillo emphasizes that – when managing Ocular Surface Disease (OSD) with scleral lenses - there are some non-optional essentials including:

1)   A thorough understanding of the disease

2)   Willingness to co-manage with other specialists

3)   Understanding of risk factors that can lead to complications

4)   See the BIG picture – never forget your clinical training
 
She then presented some very interesting clinical cases pertaining to Sjogrens Syndrome, Graft Versus Host Disease, Atopic Disease, and Neurotrophic Keratopathy.

She gave a brief description of each of these conditions with treatment followed by a case. The case would present relevant management pearls with scleral lenses and adjunct pharmaceutical therapy, as well as problem-solving and relevant literature. In addition, it was also an interactive presentation as the audience was polled to provide their opinion on case management and treatment options. What makes this as good a clinical presentation on this important topic as you will ever watch is a combination of the clinical pearl/”Big Picture” format combined with outstanding graphics of diseased eyes, scleral lens applications, and management nomograms.
 
 



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Resource Spotlight:

Scleral Lenses and Ocular Surface Disease

The GP Lens Institute has several resources to assist with these patients. In addition to Dr. Carrasquillo’s webinar and other archived webinars in the “Scleral” category under the “Education” followed by “By Lens Type” tabs on the home page, we have a consumer brochure available on scleral lenses, and a Scleral Lens Care Tips, Application and Removal Card laminated card, both available under the “Resources” category. An invaluable resource - in cooperation with the Scleral Lens Education Society - is the “Scleral Lens Troubleshooting FAQs” downloadable booklet from the home page which includes management of ocular surface disease with scleral lenses.
 


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GP CONTACT LENS SPECIALIST




General GP Contact Lenses
Bifocal/Multifocal Contact Lenses
Contact Lenses for Irregular Corneas
Corneal Reshaping / Orthokeratology
Scleral Lens Designs



CLICK HERE to go to the page to submit your GP information.


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2021 GPLI Monthly Webinar Series


June 15, 2021







Pediatric Specialty Contact Lens Applications




Presented by
Heidi Miller, OD, FAAO, FSLS

8:00 PM Central


Upcoming:





July 20: Stephanie L. Woo OD, FAAO, FSLS:
Contact Lens Management of Keratoconus
Myopia Management Update

July 27: STUDENT WEBINAR: Dawn Lam, MS, OD, FAAO and Erin Rueff, OD, PhD, FAAO
Troubleshooting Corneal GP Lenses

August 17: Jeffrey J. Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO
Myopia management Update

September 21: Renee Reeder OD, FAAO, FSLS: Custom Soft Lens Update for Healthy and Irregular Cornea Patients

October 19: Jason Jedlicka OD, FAAO, FSLS:
Software Applications for Specialty Lens Designs

November 16: Greg DeNaeyer OD, FAAO, FSLS: Beyond the Basics: Advanced scleral lens design

December 21: Maria K. Walker OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS: GP Material Update


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Orders shipped to the USA only - 200 of each complimentary including shipping

1)   GP Lens Management Guide (download only)

2)   Fluorescein Pattern Identification Card

3)   Correcting Presbyopia Tips Card

4)   Contact Lens Clinical Pocket Guide

5)   In-Office Disinfection of Multi-Patient Use Diagnostic Contact Lenses

6)   See with Your Contacts Even When You’re Not Wearing Them (Orthokeratology Patient Brochure which can be downloaded as well)

7)   Look as Young as You Feel (Multifocal Patient Brochure which can be downloaded as well)

8)   Scleral Lenses are Big News (Scleral Consumer Brochure which can be downloaded as well)

9)   Caring for Your GP Lenses (Care and Handling Patient Brochure which can be downloaded as well)

10)   Myopia Management (Myopia Patient Brochure for which the references can be downloaded from this site)

11)  Reading Verification Card (features both passages on one size of varying acuity and different types of print – newspaper, etc. – on the other side)

12) Scleral Lens Care Tips, Application and Removal Card


Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSEd, FAAO, FSLS
Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri St Louis College of Optometry
President and Executive Director
GP LENS INSTITUTE (GPLI)

The Gas Permeable Lens Institute is dedicated to providing eyecare professionals with unbiased educational and practice-building resources highlighting GP and custom manufactured soft contact lenses.



Enjoy your life, love your family and be respectful to all.





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GP Lens Institute


(402) 465-4122
(800) 344-9060 (USA & Canada)

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