Testimonials

September 4, 2012

Dear Dr. Boshnick,

I want to tell you how wonderful and patient you were with me in fitting for my scleral lenses and eye glasses.

I have the scleral lenses for over a year now and lov, love, love them. My eyes are so comfortable and I am wear only ONE pair of sun glasses while driving!! The tearing and severe discomfort have stopped from the "brightness" I experienced for so many years.

The eye glasses are a perfect addition. Now I am able to see even more clearly and enjoy reading without the contant putting on and taking off of reading glasses.

Your knowlendge and expertise should be noted. It is great that you share and take the time for training students in your profession. The "planting of seeds" on up and coming minds is such a positive thing.

I am looking forward to you taking care of my eyes for a long , long time.

Doctor, thank you again. May God continue His blessings on your family and practice of restoring comfortable sight.

As a result of my condition of keratoconus, I hadn't worn a contact lens on my right eye for more than twenty years due to the considerable discomfort I experienced, therefore relying on seeing through the contact lens of my left eye only. Over the years, I tried several eye doctors but no one seemed to be able to find a contact lens that I could wear comfortably until I was referred to Dr. Boshnick two years ago. Within a few visits, he was able to fit me with a contact lens that has worked like a charm and now I am extremely pleased that I can finally benefit from seeing comfortably through both eyes - something that just a years ago I thought would not be possible!

Claus Kursell

I have had Keratoconous for the past 15 years and have been wearing Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses. Due to my advanced case, my cornea is very steep and it was difficult to keep my lenses, they would always pop out. This made driving very difficult, walking in the streets was an adventure, and I would no longer want to socialize at night nor play any sports. I got used to losing a lens every other month which was costing me a fortune!

After a while, the fitting was not perfect in order for the lens to stay on the eye but was not comfortable, I was always blinking since the lens felt like a piece of stone. So after seeing several doctors over the years, I met Dr. Boshnick who recommended that I try a new pair of lens that most doctors do not fit since they mostly recommend to have a corneal transplant. I am not ready for such an invasive surgery.

Well wth the corneal lens, I do not feel the lenses anymore, they do not pop out and my vision has improved tremendously, close to 20/40 - 20/30 with glasses due to astigmatism. I can't wait to start plaing tennis again for the first time in 5 years or even read a book from cover to cover.

Thanks.

Sincerely,
Philippe Saint-Cyr

Hey Doc,

My name is Felipe Alexandre and I am a student and full time interpreter in Miami. I used to wear soft contact lenses, but my problems began when I decided to expore LASIK surgery. It turns out that the surgery accelerated an existing problem that the physician failed to detect and two years later, my vision had retrogressed even worse than it had been prior to the surgery and I was diagnosed with keratoconus. During a follow up with the operating physician, he conveniently suggested that I not worry about what happened because that was in the past, but that I should concentrate on how to deal with it. He told me that an update surgery would be out of the question for my case and instead, he referred me to a contact lense specialist where I would be fitted with hard contact lenses. This specialist fitted me with the lenses, gave them to me, and sent me on my merry way. There were no follow ups, nothing. These lenses were extremely unconfortable as they would wobble up and down everytime I blinked and they were a constant source of agony for the next two years. It came to the point where I stopped wearing my left lense just to bring down the pain a bit. I decided to see a physician to see if anything could be done for me. He went on to refer me to Dr. Boshnick. Dr. Boshnick's treatment is an actual treatment, with follow ups and monitoring of the patient's progress. With time, he was able to fit my eyes with customized lenses and I have never felt so confortable with lenses nor have I seen this well in a very long time. He taylored the plan according to my individual needs by fitting my right eye with a Rose K lense and my left eye with a sclerol lense, apparently a state of the art lense that Dr. Boshnick specializes in and he is one of the few doctors in the country that uses it. I am very pleased with my results. I'm able to truly open my eyes and go through the daily grind without having to grimace about my lenses every other second. It's a big relief in my life and for my loved ones who had seen my agony duing the past few years.

Felipe Alexandre

About two years ago I began having difficulty seeing, so my optomistrist that I had been seeing since I was ten years old referred me to Baskin & Palmer. I visited a doctor there and was continuously fitted with different lenses that I would test out and then have to go back and tell him I could literally not see. I had Cornoconus; my cornea is ovally shaped. I got so frustrated that I had made so many trips to this doctor that I told him that it was fine, but it was not fine because I still couldn't see. Well, months later my wife happened to be looking for a pediatric optometrist and looked in the yellow pages and stumbled across Dr. Edward L Boshnick's name. She then made an appointment for our daughter. When she was in the office she happened to mention that I had some rare problem with my cornea. Dr. Boshnick explained that he specialized in treating corneal diseases, and my wife called me up to tell me. I was very skeptical, because if the nation's leading facility couldn't help me how could Dr. Boshnick help me? Well the Lord lead me to Dr. Boshnick and I gave it a try. After my second visit thanks to Dr. Boshnick I now see!

Thank You Dr. Boshnick
Ihosvany Marquez

Dear Sir,

When I wake up every day, I thank God that I found you and your scleral lens I am sorry that many people have not the capability to aquire them. If these lens were invented many years ago, I would have saved lots of pain, surgeries and of course; money, but most important perhaps, I would still have my left eye.

Since I use these lenses a few months ago, I feel the moistness, no scratching, and relieve and secureness over all.

Thank you Doctor Boshnick for your kindness.

Best wishes
Wanda

Since I've been wearing the scleral lens in my left eye, my vision has been very close to 20/20 (a big change from the 20/400 vision that I experienced without the lens). The lens is comfortable to wear. I started out wearing it for 4 hours a day and have been building up to six and seven hours without any real problems.

If my eye does become irritated, it's not much different than the occasional irritation that I experience with regular contact lenses. When this does happen, I'm able to just take out the scleral lens for about a half hour and then put it back in.

Once I got used to the shape of the scleral lens, it became easier to handle and clean than my soft contact lens--mainly because the scleral lens holds its shape and doesn't fold up or become inside out.

After a year of only having about half of my eye sight, the scleral lens has made it possible for me to resume a normal life.

Spencer Morris

Good morning, Dr. B

Shay and I are doing quite well. We had a wonderful Christmas and brought the New Year in together. The eyes are doing fine. No irritation or discomfort. They have been quite sensitive to light lately (mainly the sun). I swear the SUN is getting bright everyday (smiles). The vision is steady and great. I am always amazed on how well i am seeing. As far as my ocular and visual, I have misplaced the documents from my previous doctor, I can call his office and get a copy of my records and forward it to you, if you like. I think your record on my vision is an accurate account of my vision and ocular history. When I came to you in 2004, the left could see the C & D on the vision chart and the right eye could not see the big E and still cannot. I hope this information can give you some idea of my vision history.

Dr. B, I found the excerpt I wrote on the SJS website; please use it for your new patients as well.

I was diagnosed with SJS since 1991. I was a sophomore at the University of South Florida (USF). I have experienced all the pain, anguish, alienation and loss of independence that my cohorts felt as I read their e-mails. SJS has changed my life; however; I have tried to put a positive spin on this situation. SJS has not stopped me from obtaining my Accounting degree from the Florida State University (FSU, 1995) and my MBA from USF (1997). Currently, I am the Lead Analyst for the Financial Systems in the Technology Information Department at a major Cancer Research Center. My success is threefold. First, I have a strong social network. My friends and fiancé have kept me positive. They have seen me struggle, but they have grown from my perseverance. Second, my family has always been in my corner. My mother's prayers and strong believe in the Lord have guided my path. She was there at the beginning and can witness to the miracles that God has given me in my life. Finally, God's Grace is sufficient. He has shaped and molded me into the young man I am today. Because of His Grace, I see myself in a different light. Now, the road has been tough. I have had over 50 interviews and have seen discrimination and experienced it first hand, but a door was opened to me.

I have always prayed for my sight. Now, God has answered my prayers. I am trying the scleral lens treatment with Dr. Edward Boshnick (Miami, FL). The results are more than I could imagine. With Dr. Boshnick's hard work, my vision has improved to 20/20 with the correct power. In addition, I do not feel any irritation or discomfort with the lens. The lens protects the eyes from the elements. This treatment is truly a miracle. I do recommend this treatment for SJS patients and Dr. Boshnick is truly a patient's Doctor and has the credential to make the lens work for you. He is truly an asset to the Southeast area. SJS has not stopped me from living; I just have to work harder.

REMEMBER: We are not out of the race; WE just go at a SLOWER PACE!!!! God Bless all of you and stay STRONG AND POSITIVE.

Take care and God Bless you and your family.
Troy (your grateful patient)

Growing up I never thought I would ever have vision problems. In 1995 my senior year of college my vision began to deteriorate. I thought it was no big deal and frankly never paid any attention to it. As time went on my vision got worst, so I did what anyone would do I went to an optometrist. I remember sitting at the chair and not being able to read anything that was posted on the screen. The optometrist kept changing the lenses and asking me if I could see and I of course said no. I was very frustrated and scared. What scared me even more was when the optometrist told me that he thought I may have a tumor. That really freaked me out! I went from Dr to Dr and no one knew what was wrong. Finally in 1998 I went to Bascom Palmer in Miami where I was diagnosed with Kerataconus in both eyes. I was really upset and thought I would never be able to see 20/20 ever again. After I was diagnosed I was fitted for a lens and off I went. I hated the lens, it was unberable to wear and frankly I gave up and never wore it. For three years, I never drove at night, I could not watch a live Football game, and I had trouble reading. I finally began to try and wear the lens again after some time I was able to get use to it and was able to see out of one eye for about three years. The only problem with the lens was it always kept popping out. I finally lost the lens and went back to the Dr. The Dr at Bascom Palmer determined that I needed a transplant in my right eye in order to fix the problem. In November of 2004 I decided I should get a second opinion. So I went to see Dr William Trattler who is an Opthamologist at the Center for Eye Excellence in Miami. I loved Dr Trattler when I met him he was kind and caring and really on the ball when it came to the disease state. He told me what I needed was not a transplant but someone who could fit me for lenses properly. He recommended Dr Boschnick. I called Dr Boschnick on December 17th 2004 and got in to see him the following day. Dr Boschnick did something for me no one was able to do for me. He gave me 20/20 vision in both eyes with Rose K lenses. Dr Boschnick is knowlegeble, patient, and has an open door policy Dr Boschnick knows this disease. It was a God sent that I found him, and I am finally able to enjoy all the things I was missing out on, from going to the Orange Bowl and cheering for my beloved Hurricanes, and driving at night. I would highly recommend anyone to Dr Boschnick before they go out and try all the crazy surgeries and treatments we all read about on message boards.

Sincerely,
Alex Alvarez

Dear Dr. Trattier,

I am deeply appreciative of your recommendation to see Dr. Boshnick. Two weeks ago Dr. B fitted and ordered Scleral lenses for me. Yesterday I received the lenses. The result is that the fit is not exact and the power of the lenses need to be adjusted, but all double and triple vision is gone. My vision is just about 20/20 and I am ecstatic. I spent all afternoon yesterday and all day today working on the computer designing a project for a client. Something I have not been able to do in years. I read 1/2 of a novel last night with +2 readers. The print was aharp and I could concentrate on the story. No eye strain, no double lines and no giving up after a few minutes. I can't tell you how elated I am. My wife knows how depressed I have been over the past few years. I now feel like I have been rescued and can once again live life. In fact, I have not played golf in three years, today I made a Tee time for Saturday.....I pity anyone playing near me as I think my 14 handicap is probably non existent due to the long layoff. Again, thank you very much. I can not thank you enough.

Warmest Regards,
Mike

Hi Dr. Boshnick:

I just wanted to write and tell you how much I appreciate all the help you have given me during the last 4 years with my keratoconus. If you remember, in 2001 I was referred by several of my doctors to a corneal transplant surgeon. At that time, I was told that my keratoconus had reached the point where they were no longer able to help me and that they believed that I would ultimately need this surgery to be able to function well with my vision. I called the corneal transplant surgeon, and he suggested I see you first before taking that drastic step. He enthusiastically said that he had referred many people to you, and he had never seen them back again. Thankfully, I took his advice and called you for an appointment. Since then, I have never even thought about a corneal transplant again. As far as I am concerned, you gave me my vision back and I cannot thank you enough for this. I was (and still am) amazed at your vast knowledge of this condition. You are the first ophthamologist who has even known how to deal with my problem, which had gotten to the point where it was severely impacting my job. The special lenses you fitted me with gave me back almost crystal-clear vision, something I had not had for about 8 years.

More recently, after hearing about all the Hurricane Katrina survivors, I began thinking about how I would manage if I had to evacuate my own home quickly and did not have my special lenses, perhaps for weeks or months. Add that to the fact that I cannot even make it across my house in the middle of the night without falling on my face. I desperately had wanted a pair of glasses but once again, my other doctors told me these would be useless. I mentioned this to you, and you immediately got me a pair of "emergency glasses." Admittedly, I cannot sit down and read a novel in bed after taking off my lenses for the night, but I can see enough to stumble to the kitchen for those middle-of-the-night baby bottle feedings without fear of breaking something (such as my own bones!). Once again, Dr. Boshnick, you came through for me.

I, unfortunately, will miss your professionalism, knowledge, and services as I have just relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I hope that you can help me find someone who can continue to help me with my keratoconus as you have done. I enjoyed hearing some of your stories about your travels in Albuquerque back in your college days. If you have any keratoconus patients who would like to speak with someone whom you have helped, please do not hesitate to have them contact me at this email address.

Thank you again, Dr. Boshnick.

Sincerely yours,
Laure Derr

Dr. Boshnick,

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you so very much for everything you have done for me! As you may remember I came to you with very poor vision and little hope. I had undergone Lasik surgery on both my eyes in 1999, with perfect results. I couldn't have been happier that my myopia had been taken care of and was enjoying 20/20 vision. Unfortunately approximately two years later I began to notice trouble with my vision. Things that were once crystal clear were no longer, and I was having difficulty reading, which was something I had never had a problem with.

After visiting the Doctor who performed the Lasik surgery, I was informed that I had astigmatism in both my eyes and there was not much that could be done about it other than to start using glasses again. Even with the glasses, however, I still could not achieve sharp vision. After many visits to the Doctor, I was referred to another Doctor who was apparently having success with Intacts. That doctor explained to me that the Intacts were plastic and would flatten my cornea to help with the astigmatism. At that point I was so desperate to see clearly again that I decided to once again undergo surgery, but this time I experimented with just my left eye. Although my vision in the left eye after the Intact had slightly improved, I did not feel it was sufficient enough to merit doing it on my right eye. So again I was in the same situation with poor vision. However, this doctor did tell me that some patients do suffer from this complication as a result of Lasik surgery. That was the first time that I had ever been told that this was a result of my initial Lasik.

Finally I was recommended to see you for contacts that may help me with my vision. From the first visit I had with you I immediately felt comfortable and confident you would be able to help me. You were the only doctor to explain my condition to me, and tell me that it was called Corneal Ectasia! I will never forget that you told me that if I was patient with you, together we could find the right contact lens to improve my vision. I must say that I wasn't the one who needed the patience, because at that point I had nothing to loose because my vision was so poor, however your patience with me and the time you took with me was impressive! After several attempts you found the right contact lens for me along with the right combination of glasses. At last I was able to once again see clearly! I cannot thank you enough, because it was not just your knowledge and expertise, but the time, patience and care that you gave me, which is so uncommon in today's medical field.

Thank you once again, and please now that if there is every anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to call!

Warm regards,
Jorge Vazquez

I wasn't born with this. I didn't aquire it when I was nine like my sister did. I was twelve and in the middle of my bottom-dwelling 6th grade school year and life was going by at warp speed...my life was literally a blur... OK, so I wasn't living my life at speeds that would give Nascar a run fro their money, but days really were a blur, I had imapired vision.

How I happen to come across Dr. Boshnick is Unknown to me and is faded from my mother's memory, but fate happened to be in my favor, I just didn't know it yet. At first, things were pretty usual Stephanie, you need glasses." Ok, I dug that. My glasses were permanently plastered to my face (save for when I was sleeping) for a few months before life was once again a blur. Back to Br.B I went.More usual mumbo jumbo about "...as you grow older your vision is bound to change, someimes for the better, sometimes for the worse...." in my case, it was worse..."...I think it's time you tried soft contact lenses, you could stay with your glasses, but your vision will get worse" OK, i dug the lenses, that was fine. Soft lenses that I could wear for a week or two (I don't remember exactly), without taking them off, and then I just threw them away when I was done with them. That was a pretty good deal. But my vision continued to suffer.

Again, back to Dr. B. "...I think it's about time we started with the hard, gas-permeable lenses...again, you don't have to do this if you don't want to..." I was given a choice, me,a twelve (or maybe 13 by now, not quite sure). This was fantastic! Ok, I dug the idea of the new hard lenses. Wear them during the day, take them off, wash them with not just lens solution, now there was a lens cleaner too, an then rinse, and then put back in the case and I could see....WITHOUT my contacts! They were a lilttle uncomfortable becasue although they were smaller and easier to put on, they were hard, and each lens was tinted a different color so I had a different shade of green in each eye. Everytime people would ask why, I'd have to explain the whole thing. For them it was somthing they'd never heard of before. They thought it was fantastic. Now, instead of wearing them during the day, I wear them to sleep, I take them off in the morning and I spend the day without my contacts. It's great. I don't know how many times I've lost a lens and needed it replaced and I don't know how many times I've vowed to just stop the treatment if I lost one again...but I havn't, even now that I recently lost another one.

Not only can I see during the day with no contacts, my vision has improved considerably. I even had to adjust my glasses becasue I couldn't see with them anymore in case I didn't put on my contats the night before. Sure, I get the occasional day when my contact decides to be tempermental and refuse to let me see completly focused, but that is very very rare. Now 4 years later, I still don't regret the choice to use the gas-permeable lenses. Not only is Dr. Boshnick a fantastic optomologist, he also likes to keep tabs with any problems with my contacts and lets me email him whenever I have a question or just to say "Thanks a million!" for all the incredible work he has done for me.

Stef M. Guerra

I came to know Dr. Boshnick and the scleral lens after battling a Pseudomonas eye infection for almost one year. It all started when I rushed myself to the hospital after feeling intense discomfort and irritation on my left eye.

At this point I had been wearing soft (daily) contact lenses for about 15 years, and I had never encountered any issues at all. I found it very strange that I would be developing such an infection, but one hour into the waiting at the hospital I had already lost all of my vision in the left eye. I started a treatment which included very strong antibiotics to control the infection. The bacteria, however, had a very destructive nature and my cornea was scared almost in the very center of the field of vision. Dr. Trattler proceeded to very successfully scrape the scar using a laser procedure, but the damage had been done and my cornea did not keep its usual spherical shape.

This new shape has made it virtually impossible to wear soft or gas permeable contact lenses. After being in the care of Dr William Trattler for about 6 months, he recommended that I contact Dr. Boshnick to continue my recovery.

I visited Dr. Boshnick and after a couple of fittings, I was on my way to finally being able to use both eyes. I have been quite fortunate to gain almost 20/20 vision on my left eye after using the scleral lens. I did not think this would be possible and I am quite thankful to Dr Boshnick for giving me the opportunity to regain my normal vision. Having used contact lenses for quite a while, I did not have any issues in getting accustomed to wearing the new lens. The procedure for taking care of the lens has been part of my daily routine for about a year now, and I wouldn't trade it for gold.

Thank you Dr. Boshnick.

Luis Cabello

Good morning, I just wanted you to know that the CRT Lenses I have been wearing have been great. No more having to wear contact lenses or glasses. I can now wear my sunglasses without having to worry about contact lenses or having a special prescription made just for enjoying sunglasses all together.

I have been wearing the lenses for almost 2 years now and I have had 15/20 vision ever since. They are incredible and so has been your medical services and care. Its nice to know that I have finally found an eye care Doctor that goes above and beyond to insure that his customers are well taken care of and are well treated and not just another dollar sign unlike many other practices I have been to.

I look forward to continue wearing these lenses and continue to have 15/20 vision with the CRT lenses you have prescribed to me. Everyone who has to wear contacts lenses or glasses should really take a look into having these lenses made for them. It's nothing like wearing contacts or glasses; my eyes see even better than they did with my other prescription lenses and glasses. There is no comparison what so ever and it beats having to spend thousands of dollars on lasik surgery. All I have to do is slip them in at night and in the morning simply take them off and I have 15/20 vision throughout the entire day and night. I have even gone without wearing them for 2 days and have still been able to go on as usual.

Thanks again for all the help and for introducing me to this great pair of lenses that now lets me see things I have never seen before.

Best wishes,

Albert Santelices

Dear Dr. Boshnick,

My eyes are feeling a much better. Before I met you and Dr. Tseng my eyes were very itchy and were dry and most of the time my eyelashes kept curling in and that made my eyes very uncofortable. But now that I have met you and Dr Tseng I have hope that I will some day have sight in my right eye. The scaleral lenses that you gave me are sometimes comfortable also my vision has slighty improved. Look forward to hearing from you.

Your patient,

Michael Black

Good Morning Dr. Boshnick,

I want to take this moment to extend my gratitude for you. I appreciate all your support and interest on me. Beside I want to let you know I feel comfortable with the new contact lens and my eye is not red. I'm not wearing the soft contact lens to sleep because the first night that I did it I didn't feel very well. My eye hurt and was red. So I'm not wearing and I feel very well now.

Thank you very much for your patience,

Sincerely,

Lauren A. Bazante

Since sophomore year in high school, I noticed that my eye sight was getting slightly blurry since I wasn't able to read from the back of the class anymore and was forced to use the dreaded front row. But I just thought I they were tired because it would come and go. I had passed all my vision exams, especially my driving eye vision test so I didn't think there was a problem. But as the years progressed I noticed that I really couldn't read the street signs anymore because they would always seem foggy or distant. But again, I just thought my eyes were tired because that would come any go, especially at night. Night driving was a nightmare, I resorted to focusing on the lines in front of me while more often than usual checking for the road conditions around me, especially in the rain. Last year, I had to take my vision test again for my driver's license renewal and I failed it. They sent me to see an eye doctor in order to renew my license. The first doctor I went to was at a lenscrafter and he told me that I had myopia, the second doctor I went confirmed this diagnostic, and prescribed me glasses- but I was still unable to see from my left eye. The third doctor I went to said my left had was lazy, had myopia and keratoconus and suggest I go to Bascom and Palmer for treatment. This doctor signed off on my eye exam papers and I was able to get my driver's license renewed with restrictions. At a point between renewing and the New Year, my glasses broke, so I went to another doctor whom confirmed that I had keratoconus and referred me to Dr. Boshnick whom she referred to as “the leading expert in the area for keratoconus”. I'm thinking “Yeah, yeah, I keep hearing about this keratoconus do-hicky but I don't want to be labeled a freak” so I didn't pay much attention to the referral. But I kept getting these headaches, and my right eye vision was worsening by the hour so finally after much ado, I made an appointment to see Dr. Boshnick.

At first I was a little apprehensive on if I had to have eye surgery or some sort of drastic treatment. But when I got to his office, I was really excited by the possibility that I would be able to see from left eye again and possible gain the 20/20 vision again. At the first meeting with Dr. Boshnick, his expertise but me at ease. I wasn't in the hands of some green thumb, I actually found a doctor that knew what he was talking about.

He ordered me a rose-k lens for what he calls me “nipple” eye- which I found it to be a hilarious simile. Inserting and removing the lens is very easy. The only complaint is when the lens gets dry and aches a bit especially on the eye lids. Other than that, I haven't found fault with my treatment so far.

Sincerely,
Mary Elena Martinez

Well at first I really didn't notice that I wasn't able to see very well, I had always gone to my check-ups every year with my optometrist. And everything seemed fine. One year my vision had gotten a little bad but, my doctor told me it wasn't very significant, and since I was in the growing up process, going through many changes that it might just be temporary; so I thought it was nothing to worry about. Then I moved to the U.S and in that period of time when I first came here (about a year), I started noticing that my vision wasn't as good as the rest of my family. My parents got a little worried but we didn't think it was anything to big.

I went to many different eye doctors here in Miami, and I got very different suggestions. One of them told me it was maybe temporary and that if I wanted to I could wear glasses to read. Another one told me I had severe vision loss and astigmatism, and that I was in really bad shape and that I definitely needed glasses. Nothing really seemed to be what we were looking for, and we still had many questions unanswered. Finally, my whole-life doctor from my country referred me to a Doctor here in Miami, Dr. Boshnick.

He first diagnosed me with Keratoconus when I was 13 years old. I was kind of worried at first but Dr. Boshnick explained everything to me really well so that I wouldn't be so scared. He fitted me with Rose K lenses, the process to find just the right ones took a couple months. It was kind of awkward at first so the first couple days I started wearing them a just some hours per day. Then I started wearing them all the time. When I started wearing them and I finally realized how bad my vision was, and how the lenses improved my vision dramatically. I have now been wearing my Rose K lenses for about three years, and like Dr. Boshnick said it became just another thing in my daily routine, like putting my shoes on, or brushing my teeth. Sometimes I even forget that I am wearing them, they are very comfortable, and besides loosing them twice I haven't had any problems with them. For that I am very thankful to you, Dr.Boshnick, thanks for all your patience and support you have truly been a blessing to my life, and I will miss you very much but I hope we can always stay in touch.

Sincerely,
Gabriela Lara

I was diagnosed with KC in 1997 by an optometrist trying to fit me with eye glasses. I had gone to his office on several occassions because he was getting frustrated by my "lack of attention and lack of interest" on trying to get a prescription for the glasses. He actually told me that I wasn't helping him do his job! So after a few weeks, I guess a lightbulb lit up and he advised me that I may have KC... A corneal topography at the opthamalogists office confirmed his suspicion.

I went back to his office to get fitted for RGP lenses... the first I wore lenses, he had advised that it would be hell. "Like having a grain of sand in your eye all day". I was expecting the worse and got it. It was truly unbearable that I actually couldn't wear the contacts on both eyes at the same time. I came up with a stupid method that I would wear a lense on one eye for a few hours and then switch to the other and so forth. It was horrible. My eyes were always bloodshot, dry, itchy and irritated. I asked the doctor and he said that all of these were common so I figured that this was the price of my disease and that I had to live with it. Which I did for about 2 years while living overseas. The first clue should of been when I asked the doctor how many KC patients he sees and he stated that he had around 2-3 patients with KC... In other words, I was his guinea pig for fitting lenses.

When I came back in 1999, I decided that enough was enough and sought a second opinion from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. I researched a little online and found that there was a lense fitter there. Mr Winegar started seeing me around 1999 and immediately saw that the lenses I was wearing were leaving an imprint in my cornea because they were mis-fitted. I stopped wearing those lenses and he fitted me with Rose-K. I tried wearing the Rose-K alone but was also not doing that well with them so I asked if there was anything else that can be done and he said the magic word "piggyback". So I had researched a little on piggyback and all I knew was that there was a whole lot of lenses in each eye. He fitted me with Acuvue's and the RGP and voila no more issues. I was able to wear the lenses in both eyes for over 12 hours with no side effects. So I used this method for several years until I heard of the SynergEyes...

As soon as SynergEyes was available, I enthusiatically asked Mr Winegar to fit me for those thinking that it would be better than the piggy back solution. I was wrong, after trying to wear them for about 3 weeks, I gave up. I couldn't tolerate them for more than 1 hour at a time. My eyes would start watering and getting red almost like I had an allery to the material or something. I ended up using the piggybacks if I needed to leave the house or drive because the SynergEyes were very unpredictable as to when it would cause me to start tearing and irritating my eyes.

I returned the SynergEyes and continued with the piggybacks. I was getting haziness in the left eye after several hours of use of piggybacks and would need to pop it out and lubricate the lense for the haziness to disappear. All looked fine to Mr Winegar so nothing was done.. I was also seeing a little blurry out of the left eye. Nothing looked unusual so nothing was done.

Then I met Dr Boshnick at KC support group meeting organized by the NKCF in early 2006. I made an appt with him and decided that I should get a second opinion.

He realized that my left contact was actually the same as the right one and was probably ordered incorrectly when my left lense broke a few months before so the curvature of my left was more than my right and there was an air bubble that was causing the haziness.

Dr Boshnick also re-ordered another corneal topography (no other doctor had done another one since 1997 almost 9 years!!) and confirmed that I had pellucid cornea on my left eye and ordered Rose-K to help with that.

I now have the new lense and I can see crystal clear for hours on end. I play sports and have an extremely active lifestyle and can honestly say that my life has changed since the different contact was ordered... I used to need to remove my contact around 9pm or so after 14 hours of use and now I can wear then easily 16-17 hours with no problem...

Dr Boshnick has done a battery of tests on my eyes including multiple corneal topographies to continuosly check how I am doing and he was meticulous in changing lenses until the fit was perfect. I can tell the difference and my left eye is no longer hazing after hours of use and my vision is a crystal clear 20/20.

I am impressed that everytime I go to his office there is another KC patient waiting to see him and he is one of the foremost experts in KC in the South East and I am lucky enough to have him local.

Dear Dr Boshnick,

I am seeing beautifully and I cannot believe that I am now able to wear the Rose K Lens in my left eye. I am currently wearing my lens for more than 12 hours per day and I have never seen better. I am so happy and in total awe with my new vision and comfort.

As you know I was diagnosed with Keratoconus approximately 23 years ago. I have tried several contact lens with no success. I constantly felt as if I had sand, stones, and sharp pieces of glass in my eye. I finally gave up on contacts and have been wearing glasses only for the last 7 years. My vision in my left eye had finally deteriorated to the point that glasses alone were not helping and I was at my wits end. I saw a local doctor who told me to consider laser surgery and if that did not work, try intacs. Surgery has always been my absolute last resort. I came back to Miami where my original ophthalmologists' office was and she recommended I see you Dr Boshnick. I am very grateful for all your hard work in trying to fit me with a comfortable lens. I am thankful that I can see well again, that my Rose K lens is comfortable, and most of all for your efforts that will continue to help many keratoconus patients like me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you,
sincerely,
Andrea Huertas

Dear Dr. Boshnick,

I'm writing you this short story about my dad and how Scleral lenses have helped him. My dad had lasik surgery 9 years ago in San Salvador, El Salvador. After that operation, my dad was left almost blind. They scarred his eyes so much. My dad was not able to see anything at night; he basically had to rely on his family for everything. Even when it was light out and he entered a dark room, he was totally blind. So we lived in Miami, Florida for like 6 to 7 years trying to find him some help. Some doctors would tell him that there was no more hope for him that sooner or later he woud be blind, but when we decided that we wanted, to move to North Carolina we decided to try one more time. So we found Dr. Boshnick. He introduced us to Scleral Lenses from that day on my dad has been able to see really good. It has been a year and my dad is doing perfectly fine.

Thank You Dr. Boshnick for everything.

Love,
Zamora Family

I was in glasses full time for nearsightedness at the age of 5. By the age of 11, I was in contact lenses full time. About age 26, I was have severe problems related to the contact lens use and was having trouble being fitted. I was referred to a Corneal Surgeon for an evaluation. This was in the mid 90's prior to Lasik. I saw Dr. Stanley Rous. He started with ALK in both eyes. Followed shortly after by RK in both eyes and then RK enhancements in both eyes. Although my vision was not 20/20, I was able to see (with glasses) 20/25 with both eyes for approx 2 years. Early 2000, my surgeon (Dr. Rous) convinced me that Lasik was my answer to getting rid of my glasses. I was 30, single and vain. I could no longer wear contacts (after all of the surgeries) and wanted to get rid of my glasses so I followed the advice of my surgeon. He never did an Orbscan on me prior to my Lasik surgery and proceeded with both eyes.

After my Lasik I was seeing about 20/25 without glasses. That lasted about 6 months. My vision slowly declined and I was back in glasses full time within the year. My night vision was completely gone. My vision stayed stable (during the day) for about 4 years. Then my vision started to decline again. I went back to my surgeon and he sent me for an Orbscan (my first one ever) and diagnosed me with Keratoconus secondary to all of my surgeries (which he performed). He then told me that my vision can no longer be corrected with glasses. He referred me to another Corneal Surgeon for possible Intacs or Corneal Transplants. I saw the new surgeon and multiple other corneal surgeons in the next several months (including the chief of Corneal Surgery at Bascom Palmer in Miami). All of the surgeons shared the same opinion, none of them would touch me. They all said I was "too high risk for any surgical procedures due to all of the scar tissue" from my previous surgeries. I was sent to see several contact lens specialist that treat Keratoconus. None of them were successful. I went to see the contact lens doctor at Bascom Palmer......Dr. William Weingard. Not only did he not help me, his demeanor with me was so poor that I left there crying after each visit. I called him once from the road struggling to see with the new contacts he fit me with and he told me "what do you expect me to do, I'm not God, you need new cornea's".

I was so disgusted after my experience with Bascom Palmer and the several other Corneal Surgeons and Keratoconus specialist that I just decided that this was going to be my life. I was in glasses and seeing 20/60 with my right eye and 20/400 with my left and that was the best it was going to be for me during the day. I accepted that I was a prisoner of my house when the sun went down dependent on others for driving after dark. I had heard about Dr. Bosnick from one of the corneal surgeons I had seen. I hadn't gone to see Dr. Bosnick because I had seen so many other docs and was so disgusted and depressed (and broke) that I didn't want to hear to same old story again (that I was helpless).

After 2 more years, I finally decided to give Dr. Bosnick a try. I've been his patient for about 6 months now. He had been extremely patient, sympathetic, and understanding with me. He is the only doctor that hasn't "thrown in the towel" with me in 7 years. He has fitted me with Sclera lenses. They are still not perfect in the comfort department, but I'm seeing 20/20 with them! It's a miracle for me. The other night my 12 yr old was at her friends house and I was able to drive to her friend and pick her up. I didn't even know how to put the headlights on (I never had used them). It was such a tremendous a accomplishment for me to be able to pick up my daughter at 9 pm. Sad, but true. I'm so excited about finally seeing. I'm turning 40 this year and it's the best year of my life thanks to Dr. Bosnick. I am forever grateful for his brilliance and compassion.

Regards,
Jami Sorren

Hello Robert,

I'm sorry for the late reply, I've been traveling quiet a bit in the past two weeks with limited access to e-mail.

My name's Gabriel Meneses, and I recently relocated to Singapore from Miami on a business assignment. I've been Dr Boshnick's patient for over a year now, and I'm very sorry to hear that your LASIK procedure did not go well. Unfortunately, I had a very bad experience myself, and there's not a day that goes by where I do not regret my decision to walk into that LASIK clinic about 6 years ago (I was 22). There is no doubt in my mind that the doc who operated on me killed my vision, and now I struggle every day trying to find a way to keep a functional life going forward. I'm not sure what you condition is, but in my case, I was diagnosed with "Post-lasik corneal ectasia" on one eye...this is due LASIK compromising the integrity of the cornea, and therefore, bending it our of shape. I can't even describe what my vision is on that eye (completely useless without aid), and with that, I live with horrible daily migraines, eye pain, etc.

Thankfully, the other eye was not affected by ectasia (or at least it hasn't yet) however, even though I can see 20/20 with that eye, the vision quality is poor, specially at night and low light conditions (Halos, ghosting, and starbursts). To add to my dilemma, the LASIK procedure left me with severe dry eyes, and besides the nasty feeling of foreign objects, this causes my vision to fluctuate all the time and makes it very difficult for me to resist contact lenses.

About a year ago after I had lost all hope, I was referred to Dr Boshnick, I'm not exaggerating when I say this but I honestly think he gave me my life back. He has been the most incredible and caring doctor I have ever dealt with, and besides offering me hope, guidance, and support...he has offered me something more important...friendship.

After taking the time to try different contact lenses (Scleral), Dr Boshnick gave me the opportunity to be one of the first to try the new Synergeyes P.S. lens...all I can say is what a difference!!!. For the first time ever, I'm able to wear a lens that I don't even feel inside my eye (even with my eye dryness it feels very good)...the combination of a hard lens with a soft edge makes it just like wearing a regular soft lens. As for vision quality, this lens has definitely offered me the best I've experience so far (and we've tried many others previously). Since the condition with my eye is so severe, I can't say that my vision is perfect now, but on good days, I can see the 20/20 line, and therefore, I have no doubt that this is the best that I'll be able to achieve under the current circumstances and present technology.

During my 6 year ordeal I was treated by many doctors, and therefore, my honest recommendation, is that you arrange to see Dr Boshnick as soon as possible as I'm sure that he will take the time needed to help you achieve the best vision possible. I would also recommend that you give the Synergeyes lens a try, as it really is amazing...however, keep in mind that the real success is not in the lens, but in the experience of the doctor behind making this happen.

Well Robert, sorry for the long e-mail, but if there is someone who understands what you're going through is me...I wish you the best of luck, please look me up if you have any questions, and lets plan to keep in touch moving forward.

Best Rgds,
Gabriel

You may be surprised to find that there are some gurus at fitting contact lenses for challenging cases. We are lucky to have an amazing contact lens fitter in Miami (about 30 minutes South of you). He uses all sorts of lenses - from the Boston Scleral lens to the typical reverse geometry RGP to the new soft contact lens made for keratoconus - which I think is called the Eni lens.

Anyway - as long as dry eye is not the underlying cause for your patient's contact lens intolerance - I would bet that Dr. Ed Boshnick (305-264-4400) could fit your patient. His email is: orthok@adelphia.net I do have to mention one thing - when you work with an amazing contact lens fitter - the number of surgeries one does for keratoconus and ectasia basically drops to 0. Thankfully, he has also made things easy when faced with very challenging cases - like Stevens Johnson syndrome patients. The attached photo is of a patient with SJS who is monocular and was legally blind. I believe that he sees in the 20/50 range with this scleral contact lens (I am emailing Dr. Boshnick to double check). Being able to avoid a PKP in a monocular patient with Stevens Johnson syndrome and corneal scarring is priceless.

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

Dear Dr Boshnick:

If there is any way that I can help spread the news about the service that you provide to post refractive surgery patients, I am more than happy to do so.

A loss of best corrected spectacle vision after LASIK and other refractive surgeries may be due to irregular astigmatism. THe only effective treatment for irregular astigmatism is RGP's (rigid, gas permeable lenses). These fittings can be particularly difficult because of gross changes in the shape of the cornea with surgery, as well as the iatrogenic induction of various degrees of dry eye.

Dr Boshnick is very skilled as an RGP fitter, and I strongly recommend him to any person who is struggling with vision loss after LASIK. As the number of serious, post refractive surgical complications continue to mount, new niche market providers of post surgical lenses are emerging. Dr Boshnick is on the cutting edge of this rehabilitative market, and is acquiring the necessary skills to fit post refractive surgical complications well in advance of his peers.

In addition to his skill and competence, Dr Boshnick is a genuinely caring practitioner. He is well aware that some patients after refractive surgery are extremely difficult if not impossible to fit with RGP's, but he is willing to spend as much time as possible with such patients in order to find the best solution for them, even if that solution does not involve a total restoration of vision. His prices are very fair, so no one can ever accuse him of exploiting the wounded. But most importantly, Dr Boshnick is committed to getting the word out about LASIK. In his own words, he is "following the back side of the elephant." He "knows the kind of things that can come out."

As a professional whose life and career has been permanently altered by a bad refractive surgery outcome, it is consoling to see a practitioner who gives true informed consent to prospective patients about elective refractive surgery. When patients inquire about LASIK and other refractive surgeries, he tells them the truth in the most powerful of ways. He introduces them to patients in his waiting room.

When it comes to LASIK, the best words of advice are BUYER BEWARE!.

Mike Mullery

First let me start off by telling you thank you so much for your help and for bringing hope back into my life.

Here is my story: I've been wearing glasses since I last can remember since first grade at around 6 or 7 years old. Through the years, I have seen so many doctors. My first doctors were at Bascom Palmer, then my mom took me to Elios' eye vision center at Flagler Street, she was not please at all because my eye's were getting worst. Then I went to Vision Works, my waiting time at the office was longer, then my eye visit with the doctor. The doctors would take a look at my eyes, give me a new pair of glasses, then sent me on my merry way. Then I went to The Eye Institute at around 13 years old and they gave me my first pair of soft contact lenses and I was wearing -10.50 on my right eye and -11.50 on my left eye with glasses, but on soft contacts my prescription was lower. At The Eye Institute, I was diagnosed with retinal detachment, if I was to start seeing stars on light poles, a gray cloud over my eye's, or colorful spots to call the Doctor immediately because I would have to go for surgery... My diagnose was Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment due to a hole in my eye caused by an accident I had when I was 9 years old. When I had the accident it was more head injury, then eye injury. I did not recall any eye injury, but since the Doctor said it had to be an accident that was the only accident I have ever been involved in. So I believed I had a retinal detachment and that was my reason for vision loss...So I continue to wear soft contact lenses, then I went to Doctor Shaipro's and I was seeing him every six months to change my soft contact lenses and my glasses also. So I was spending around $600.00 every six months and sometimes even more. Until one day my dad mentioned my name and condition to his eye doctor and the Doctor told my dad to speak to Christy his secretary to give me the information of a great doctor. Christy referral me to Dr. Boshnick. I had already lost hope and had seen several eye specialist to do the ICL eye surgery, since I did not qualified to have lasik, prk, or laser surgery because due to my vision loss I had a thin cornea. I was all ready to do the ICL surgery one week to go and that night something came over me and my women intuition told me to call Dr. Boshnick not to give up. So I did that that next morning, made an appointment and I saw him within four days. I was already at -14.50 on my right eye and -16.75 on my left eye with glasses and -11.00 on my right eye and -12.50 on my left eye on soft contact lenses. When I saw Dr. Boshnick one of his first questions was: What kind of contact lenses are you wearing? He could not believe I was wearing soft lenses all this time. My first visit took about three hours and that was not my waiting time, it was my visit with Dr. Boshnick... Dr. Boshnick saved me from having the eye surgery done, while I was not really all that happy about, but I thought it was the only way out. He gave me hope again. I am able to see and even better than months ago... I just wish I would have met him years ago when my vision was not as bad as today maybe something else could have be done, but for now I am very happy with my rigid gas permable contact lenses, comfortable and I can see better than on soft contact lenses. Thank you Dr. Boshnick... May God Bless you as you have blessed me, thank you so much...

Thank you,

Happy Jacqueline Perez

Dear Dr Boshnick,

Friday was an incredible day, I am still blown away at what I saw or better yet what Tiffany saw.

Its been almost five years now that Steven's Johnson Syndrome affected my family, in more ways that I can think of. These past five years were filled with a lot of surprises mostly bad, Tiffany has had a lot to deal with and have always never given up hope. What ever life threw at her, she dealt with it and was ready for the next. We've learn to not get our hopes up to much and appreciate the little victories.

Little victories, those were your words, I know my family seems a little skeptical but its not been easy these past few years, Tiffany has a lot of fears to get over. I cant begin to thank you for all the patients and time you've given to Tiffany.

HOPE, you have given us hope again, and you've made a child's dream come true. Losing her vision was hard on my entire family and through it all Tiffany's dream is that she will see again. The hope that Tiffany will see again is a reality not just a dream anymore and its all because of you and all the efforts you've made.

It's so amazing to watch her, trying to look at everything around her. Her teachers have notice the improvements in her vision, she is able to participate in much more class activities. Last year Tiffany took the Fcat in Braille and it took her a week and her class was finished in three days. This year she took the Fcat using her CCTV and was finished the same time as her class, that does not affect me in any way but it was a great accomplishment for Tiffany. She was thrilled that she did not need extra time.

So Dr Boshnick thank you for making our dream come through.

Dr. Edward Boshnick is not only a highly qualified contact lens fitter (CLF) and eye care specialist, but a stellar person and a wonderful, gracious human being. One of the greatest anxieties a patient has -- whether s/he goes under the knife or beneath the sethoscope -- is that a doctor won't sympathize with his/her position, hearing but not really *listening* to a patient's deep-seated inner anxieties. Dr. Boshnick exceeds expectations on this score not just because he is a true healer in the Maimonidean sense of the term, but in my specific case, he also manages to do all this virtually, via email. The soothing warmth of his sentiments emanates over those trans-Atlantic signal waves, and his humble "bedside manner" are genuine gems to behold, always pacifying my health concerns during phases of higher-than-normal worry about my particular health condition. Courtesy of Dr. Boshnick's personal networks, I've succeeded in establishing some new friendships and business collaborations, proving the point that a doctor isn't just a man of pure science and anatomy, but is also be a true blue friend. I'd recommend Ed's services in a heartbeat, without a moment's quibbling.

Adam Daniel Mezei