What is a “Boston Contact Lens”?
Boston contact lenses are all gas permeable lenses. The term “Boston” actually refers to a line of gas permeable lens materials manufactured by Bausch & Lomb.
When a gas permeable lens is manufactured, it starts as a plastic button, about the size of 2 or 3 shirt buttons piled on top of one another. Each button is made of a specified plastic. Every Bausch and Lomb button is a Boston contact lens ready to be manufactured, each type of material has it’s pros and cons and no one lens material could possibly work on each and every eye.
A few common boston materials are:
- Boston XO
- Boston ES
- Boston IV
- Boston EO
- Boston II
Each material has specifications regarding oxygen transmissibility, ability to maintain moisture (wettability), machining capabilities, and stability. Selecting the correct material is part of the fine tuning process in fitting gas permeable contact lenses. Some materials work better with specific types of tear film, others work better for multifocals, and some work best for optimal health and extended wear time.
From the wearers standpoint, the same lens manufactured out of Boston ES and Boston EO probably won’t make any difference. And, there are more gas permeable materials to choose from than just Boston plastics. Paragon, Contamac, and others all have lines of gas perm materials. Leave the selection of lens materials up to your qualified lens fitter.
A short quick answer to the original question: “Boston contact lenses” are gas permeable contact lenses.
