Boston scleral lens prosthetic device for treatment of severe dry eye in chronic graft-versus-host disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the Boston Scleral Lens Prosthetic Device (BSLPD) reduces symptoms and improves quality of life in patients with severe dry eye from chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD).


METHODS
This is a noncomparative interventional case series reporting 33 consecutive patients with severe dry eye from cGvHD, unresponsive to conventional therapy, who were fitted with the BSLPD. A patient survey was undertaken after lenses were dispensed and worn regarding the effect of scleral lens wear on their symptoms, quality of life, and activities of daily living. The patient population was characterized from a retrospective chart review. Survey data were tabulated.


RESULTS
BSLPD wear resulted in improvement in pain, photophobia, and general quality of life in nearly all patients, with more than half reporting the highest improvement level for pain (52%) and photophobia (63%), and more than two thirds (73%) reporting the highest improvement level for quality of life. There was improvement in reading and driving in >90% of those who reported previous compromise, with >60% reporting the highest improvement level for each of these activities.


CONCLUSIONS
The BSLPD mitigates symptoms and improves quality of life in patients with severe dry eye from cGHvD.
Boston Foundation for Sight, Needham, MA 02494, USA. djacobs@bostonsight.org
Deborah S
DS
Jacobs
Perry
P
Rosenthal
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003261:Contact Lenses; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D020795:Photophobia / Q000628:therapy; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D011788:Quality of Life; D012590:Sclera