BostonSight expands clinical trials capabilities for optometric and ophthalmic research

BostonSight's expansion of its integrated clinical research capabilities will support optometric and ophthalmic studies focused on specialty lenses and ocular surface disease. (Image credit: AdobeStock/photon_photo)

BostonSight has expanded its clinical trials capabilities to support the design and execution of optometric and ophthalmic research studies. The nonprofit organization describes itself as the only US clinical center solely dedicated to specialty lenses and ocular surface innovation and education, with integrated clinical, research, and manufacturing operations housed under 1 roof.¹

Consolidated services include an active patient clinic; an FDA-registered and ISO-certified specialty lens manufacturing lab; experienced principal investigators; and a clinical research team. The multidisciplinary team includes a board-certified optometrist and ophthalmologist team, data analysts, and software engineers focused on specialty lens and ocular surface disease research and development. The site also supports skilled protocol writing, IRB submission, and advanced ocular surface disease research and development.

“Since 1992, BostonSight has been researching specialty lens technology to innovate care and treatment for those with a broad range of ocular surface and irregular corneal diseases,” said Dan Brocks, MD, BostonSight’s chief medical officer. “With all operations under one roof… BostonSight is an ideal clinical research partner, providing peace of mind, oversight, and a streamlined site to initiate your study.”

The organization supports prospective studies that test treatments, including investigational drugs or scleral lens devices; behavioral studies; observational trials on scleral lens efficacy; and diagnostic research on emerging technologies for ocular surface disease.

Dan Brocks, MD, BostonSight’s chief medical officer (Image credit: BostonSight)

The Eye Care Network spoke with Brocks, who shares how the organization’s integrated model enhances research efficiency, fosters innovation, and supports collaboration across disciplines.

What advantages does having all services—clinic, lab, and research team—under 1 roof bring to the execution and efficiency of ophthalmic and optometric studies?

Brocks: At BostonSight, we have a busy patient clinic helping those with advanced cornea, ocular surface, and external disease; an engineering team and engineering lab dedicated to specialty lens manufacturing and innovation; and a clinical research team, which includes a highly experienced full-time clinical research coordinator, with the mission to investigate care options for these patients in great need. Having all these services and expertise under 1 roof allows for an efficient and coordinated process to undertake self-sponsored studies and investigator-initiated trials and serve as a clinical trial site for sponsored studies. We are able to create, write, and submit clinical trial protocols; implement clinical studies in our patient clinic; and provide ongoing regulatory and compliance oversight. The clinical trial team conducts data analysis, and writes and submits manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.² With these capabilities we can serve as a strong, efficient partner to industry collaborators to investigate and address significant and timely ocular surface disease management questions and hypotheses. BostonSight has over 30 years of experience in this field and strives to continue to be a leader in innovation in this space.

In the field of cornea, external disease and specialty lens, how does BostonSight’s unique focus influence the types of clinical trials you pursue or attract?

Brocks: BostonSight is uniquely focused on innovation in the specialty lens sector, including scleral lenses and PROSE treatment to find improved solutions for patients with cornea, ocular surface and external disease.³ Our mission and our focus allows us to work in an environment to specifically create protocols and form partnerships for clinical trial implementation in order to efficiently evaluate new potential treatment options for the patient population we serve.

With a team that includes board-certified ophthalmologists, optometrists, software engineers, and data analysts, how does BostonSight’s interdisciplinary approach contribute to innovation in treating ocular surface disease?

Brocks: Having all the expertise under 1 roof notably has a tremendous cost advantage, which can often be a significant barrier to clinical trial start up. Rather than require third-party contracts and budgets for all these specialized areas of expertise, we currently employ these experts within our company. This provides for a cost-effective solution for implementing self-sponsored studies or for implementing studies for or with industry partners. Collaborative knowledge, meetings, discussions, and coordinated processes benefits the goal of streamlined innovation to effectively and efficiently achieve our pioneering goals. We encourage and seek out any and all partners that wish to collaborate on projects that would benefit from our team approach.

References:

1. BostonSight expands clinical trials capabilities. News release. BostonSight. July 15, 2025. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://www.bostonsight.org/bostonsight-expands-clinical-trials-

2. BostonSight. Peer-reviewed publications. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.bostonsight.org/our-research/our-publications/

3. BostonSight. Patient PROSE treatment. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.bostonsight.org/patients/patient-prose-treatment/