At last! A low-budget scleral lens stand. Kudos to DMV (more about them below) for figuring this out and bringing it to market at such a low price point. I was so pleased that they decided to do this - and gratified that they let me have some input on the design before finalizing it. Please make sure to tell your doctor about this product. Even if it's not the right tool for you, it's going to be the right tool for some other patient.
What excites me about this product, coming from this very well known manufacturer, is that it will mean more people learn about and try stands earlier in their training process - so they don't arrive at that point of frustration (and sometimes hopelessness!) that many have experienced on the scleral lens journey. I imagine that for some people, this will be a long term tool, while for others, it will be a stepping-stone to a See Green system.
My picture is not great quality even with the light box, so it's hard to tell that this really is clear!
Stand
This is a no-frills yet thoroughly practical scleral lens plunger stand. It consists of a flat, translucent base, a skinny clear plastic tube, and a vented plunger.
The main thing I gave DMV feedback on when they were putting this together was the height of the tube. While it needed to be short enough for stability, it also needed to be tall enough for an average height human to use without their nose bumping the countertop :) I feel that they found a good happy medium. We all know that we have unique needs. One adaptation I can easily see some people using is to invert a glass or mug and place the stand on top of it for more height.
Light transmission potential?
This is designed as a stand, not a lighted inserter.
However, because of its clear/translucent materials, which conduct light, some light WILL come through the plunger unless you place the stand on something dark. For example, if you place it on a light-colored counter or a piece of white paper, and look through the plunger, you will see light. You can also point a light at it (such as a penlight) to increase light transmitting through to the plunger opening.
Users with poorer vision will still need a light source. Some will decide this isn't for them. Others will do a bit of DIY here and rig their own light source. Please share your DIYs in the reviews for everyone's benefit!
Size & height
- Disassembled: The base is 2 3/4" diameter and 1/4" high, and the tube is 4" long and 7/16" diameter.
- Assembled, it is about 4 1/4" tall
A big shout-out to DMV
DMV Corp is our industry's long-time supplier of lens handling devices. We have been purchasing products from them for more than 15 years.
When Dr Patterson reached out to me about this project, I was thrilled - especially at their commitment to keeping it at the lowest possible price point. Finding a low-cost approach required real ingenuity. I was happy to be able to have some input into details like the height.
