BostonSight and LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) have initiated a prospective clinical trial to evaluate the impact of PROSE and scleral lenses on patients’ mental health. The study expands BostonSight’s research on the role of specialty lenses in improving quality of life, beyond their established benefits for the cornea and ocular surface.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved, multi-site study will assess mental health outcomes in new PROSE patients referred to LVPEI from India and other regions.
Measuring Mental Health and Vision
As per the press release, researchers will use the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess mental health, the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) to measure ocular surface symptoms, and the Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25) to evaluate visual functioning. The study will examine whether changes in mental health correlate with improvements in ocular symptoms and vision-related function.
Expanding Specialty Eye Care
LVPEI is a long-standing partner of BostonSight and distributes PROSE and scleral lenses in India and neighbouring regions. These customised, non-surgical medical lenses help patients with corneal and ocular surface diseases achieve improved comfort, vision and quality of life. BostonSight PROSE and SCLERAL are FDA-cleared medical devices.
The study aims to raise awareness of the mental health challenges associated with ocular surface disease and encourage earlier intervention through specialty lenses.
“IRB approval is an important milestone that confirms the study meets established ethical and regulatory standards,” said Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chair, LVPEI.
“Mental health is an often overlooked or under-appreciated part of caring for patients with ocular surface disease,” said Dr Daniel Brocks, Chief Medical Officer, BostonSight. He added that improvements in vision, comfort and ocular health can significantly influence mental well-being.