PROSE - Prosthetic Replacement
of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem
of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - (2 months til Christmas) - I've
been trying to find the time to detail my experience with the
PROSE (not a contact lens) device since last Friday.
Here are the details from October 21, 2011:
8:26 a.m. - We left our house for the post-rush hour drive into the
Eye & Ear Infirmary (quaint name - since 1882) at the University
of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.
9:30 a.m. - Took about an hour -- arrived at the parking structure
one block from Taylor Street . There's a covered walkway from
the parking garage to the medical building. Sweet.
10:00 a.m. - My appointment time -- but first had to deal with
insurance matters. Apparently, BC/BS has been challenging
previous PROSE patients. duh!?!? This isn't for vanity or fun --
this is so we can SEE because we've tried EVERYTHING else.
10:20 a.m. - Dr. Horter came and got me from the waiting room
and led me into a clean, bright, narrow room with a table, mirror,
bunch of bottles of stuff, couple of chairs, and on the other side of
the room there was an entire wall that contained more supplies
(regular lenses, solutions, etc.). Kind of a storeroom actually.
She left for a few minutes, then came back and said, "here it is."
My very own PROSE device that had been made from my very
own personal prescription after the September 9th consultation.
Well, she didn't waste any time. We got started so I could learn
how to insert it into my eye. WOW! Yes, it took a few fits and
starts, but surprisingly, I was able to put it in my right eye fairly
quickly and correctly -- with my LEFT hand -- lots of times!!
Although, I did have a few mis-inserts where I'd get a bubble so I'd
have to start over. But actually, that was a good thing because
then I knew what a bubble looked like from the inside out.
been trying to find the time to detail my experience with the
PROSE (not a contact lens) device since last Friday.
Here are the details from October 21, 2011:
8:26 a.m. - We left our house for the post-rush hour drive into the
Eye & Ear Infirmary (quaint name - since 1882) at the University
of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.
9:30 a.m. - Took about an hour -- arrived at the parking structure
one block from Taylor Street . There's a covered walkway from
the parking garage to the medical building. Sweet.
10:00 a.m. - My appointment time -- but first had to deal with
insurance matters. Apparently, BC/BS has been challenging
previous PROSE patients. duh!?!? This isn't for vanity or fun --
this is so we can SEE because we've tried EVERYTHING else.
10:20 a.m. - Dr. Horter came and got me from the waiting room
and led me into a clean, bright, narrow room with a table, mirror,
bunch of bottles of stuff, couple of chairs, and on the other side of
the room there was an entire wall that contained more supplies
(regular lenses, solutions, etc.). Kind of a storeroom actually.
She left for a few minutes, then came back and said, "here it is."
My very own PROSE device that had been made from my very
own personal prescription after the September 9th consultation.
Well, she didn't waste any time. We got started so I could learn
how to insert it into my eye. WOW! Yes, it took a few fits and
starts, but surprisingly, I was able to put it in my right eye fairly
quickly and correctly -- with my LEFT hand -- lots of times!!
Although, I did have a few mis-inserts where I'd get a bubble so I'd
have to start over. But actually, that was a good thing because
then I knew what a bubble looked like from the inside out.
This is a PROSE device.
I took a picture of a
picture. It's impossible
to copy a photo off of
their website. The actual
device is as large as a
nickel because it has to
fit OVER the cornea and
rest on the sclera (white
part of the eye).
I took a picture of a
picture. It's impossible
to copy a photo off of
their website. The actual
device is as large as a
nickel because it has to
fit OVER the cornea and
rest on the sclera (white
part of the eye).
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
BUT....when it stays in my eye, THAT is amazing because then I can
SEE! Hallelujah!!
- I squeeze this tiny little plunger onto the bottom of the PROSE
device to keep it holding firm and steady, then I turn it upright.
- I fill the PROSE device with sterile saline solution until it gets
up over the tippy top.
- The eyelids of my right eye have to be spread apart by the first
two fingers of my right hand so that this nickel-size piece of
special plastic can get into my eye. yikes
- Then I bend my head over a mirror and begin to move the
plunger with the solution-filled device up toward my EYEBALL.
- As soon as I feel the coolness of the solution, I know I'm getting
close. That's when I push the device gently onto my eyeball.
- Then, I let go of my eyelids, while maintaining gentle pressure,
and at the same time, I squeeze the tiny plunger real tight so
that it will release its hold of the PROSE device.
- THEN, I have to push it up one more time before I remove it
from my eye. This all happens within seconds.....very
confusing at first. It'll definitely take some time before it's
second nature.
BUT....when it stays in my eye, THAT is amazing because then I can
SEE! Hallelujah!!
Since Saturday (the 22nd), I've been putting it in my eye for three
hours in the morning, then out for a couple of hours, then back in
for three hours. By Friday the 28th (Granny's birthday), I will have
it in for SIX hours and then Dr. Horter will give it the one week
check-up. Did I mention that I can actually SEE again!!! oh boy!
hours in the morning, then out for a couple of hours, then back in
for three hours. By Friday the 28th (Granny's birthday), I will have
it in for SIX hours and then Dr. Horter will give it the one week
check-up. Did I mention that I can actually SEE again!!! oh boy!
photo: Boston Foundation for Sight website
11:00 a.m. - We left the office and were told to come back at 1:00
p.m. so that I would have the PROSE in my eye for two hours. It
was awesome to go outside and walk down Taylor Street and be
able to SEE. Really and truly miraculous to see clearly again.
1:00 p.m. - We got back to their office and Dr. Horter checked my
vision. It was 20/25 in BOTH eyes.
1:15 p.m. - Went back to the practice table and she "MADE" me
take it out and put it in about 6 times. The last time I did it, she
said that if I didn't have a bubble, I'd be good to go. Didn't.
2:25 p.m. - We left the parking garage. YIKES! I'm sure glad
Bob likes to drive in that traffic!! I've never seen so many vehicles
in one place at 3:00 in the afternoon ever in my life. Unreal.
p.m. so that I would have the PROSE in my eye for two hours. It
was awesome to go outside and walk down Taylor Street and be
able to SEE. Really and truly miraculous to see clearly again.
1:00 p.m. - We got back to their office and Dr. Horter checked my
vision. It was 20/25 in BOTH eyes.
1:15 p.m. - Went back to the practice table and she "MADE" me
take it out and put it in about 6 times. The last time I did it, she
said that if I didn't have a bubble, I'd be good to go. Didn't.
2:25 p.m. - We left the parking garage. YIKES! I'm sure glad
Bob likes to drive in that traffic!! I've never seen so many vehicles
in one place at 3:00 in the afternoon ever in my life. Unreal.
Here's my PROSE device sitting on top of the plunger I
use to put it in my right eye.
use to put it in my right eye.
Here's my PROSE device sitting on top of the little
plunger I use to put take it out of my right eye.
plunger I use to put take it out of my right eye.