editor's perspective

2010 Top Ten List of Lens-Related Topics

BY JASON J. NICHOLS, OD, MPH, PHD, FAAO

Just over a year ago, a colleague asked whether I had a current "Top 10" list of topics in the contact lens field. At the time I did not have such a list, so in my September 2009 Editor's Perspective, I created one. Here was the list in 2009. As was stated in September 2009, there is no particular order to this list:

1. Impact of the economy on trends in the industry and in our profession
2. Care solutions—efficacy and biocompatibility
3. Soft lenses—new polymers, additives
4. GP lenses—risk for decline or booming business?
5. Lens designs—torics, presbyopic correction, orthokeratology
6. Microbial keratitis—factors other than oxygen
7. Discomfort and dryness—lenses, solutions, patients, how it is measured
8. The impact of ocular surface disease such as dry eye, blepharitis, and allergy
9. New diagnostic technology, pharmaceuticals, and combination products
10. Myopia control

As it is now a year later, I thought it would be a good time to revisit the list to see which items should stay, which items should go, and which items might be revised. So, here's my list for 2010 (again, in no particular order):

1. Improvement in the economy and impact on practice and industry vitality
2. Care solutions—forthcoming regulatory changes
3. Soft lens materials—when will we have something new on the horizon?
4. GP lenses—growth in scleral lens fitting
5. Lens designs—innovations still needed for presbyopia
6. Compliance—modalities, children, and the Internet
7. The continued impact of the Internet on eye care and contact lens practice (think "Circle" contact lenses)
8. Ocular surface disease—dry eye, blepharitis, allergy, microbial keratitis—and its impact on contact lens wear
9. Impending healthcare reform and electronic health records
10. Myopia control with soft lens designs

As you might suspect, it's difficult to summarize the field in a top 10 list! I look forward to updating this list at least annually, and, as with last year, I welcome your thoughts and feedback on making sure it is current and comprehensive.