Now 14 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, we certainly have come a long way. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home ), there have been more than 31 million cases of COVID-19 in the Unites States and more than 560,000 deaths. On the plus side, more than half of the citizens of the United States have been vaccinated, and deaths over the last 30 days have continued to decline. With all of this in mind, I am certain that you are tired of hearing about the pandemic. That said, perhaps you have some thoughts about how your life might differ post-pandemic? I, for one, am certain that I am not likely to blow out candles on a birthday cake anytime soon, if ever again!

There is no doubt that the transformation to a much more digital world has been rapidly accelerated. Artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives have grown by leaps and bounds. Telemedicine has become a new norm in healthcare. With regard to your practice, think about how it has changed and evolved during the pandemic. Likewise, consider the dynamic environment in contact lens fitting and prescribing and the regulatory changes that are moving distribution of contact lenses into new channels that will change our practice paradigms. Along these lines, Dr. Brian Chou has written an article summarizing current regulatory and commercial aspects and trends in contact lens prescribing and distribution; although he points to disturbing issues and developments, it is important to remain proactive in your practices and with your legislators regarding important issues that will, and currently are, impacting your practices.

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The goal of Contact Lens Spectrum is to provide you with timely and thought-provoking articles that will help you become a more successful contact lens practitioner. Please let us know how we’re doing! E-mail CLSpectrum@pentavisionmedia.com with your comments or article submissions.