editor’s perspective

The Contact Lens Event of 2014

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

Although we have named an “Event of the Year” for many, many years, I think it is important to first take a step back and consider how far this field has come in the more than 25 years that Contact Lens Spectrum has been serving you. During that time, we have seen the field move from traditional, yearly replaced soft contact lenses all the way to one in which daily disposable lenses continue to be the largest growing segment of the contact lens market. We’ve seen the introduction of multipurpose care solutions ... and their next generations. And, we’ve seen the re-emergence of some specialty lenses such as sclerals and hybrids. What a ride it has been.

It’s interesting to note that along the way, there has been one modality that has always maintained a small but important segment of the market—the “cosmetic” lens category. Over the past year, we’ve seen several truly novel entries into this category that, in our opinion, really fill a niche in what could become the fastest growing segment of the market in the years to come. Not only has the technology advanced to offer colored contact lenses in modern materials, but the category has expanded to include entries intended to enhance natural beauty. We look forward to seeing the impact that these novel technologies can bring to the market. For these reasons, we consider the contact lens “event” of 2014 to be the renewed interest in growing this segment of the contact lens market.

The staff of Contact Lens Spectrum and Contact Lenses Today wishes you all the best in 2015. As always, please contact us with your thoughts, comments, and tips.