OVER THE LAST YEAR, the eyecare world has seen numerous innovations in specialty contact lens fitting and care. Equipment for advanced lens design has become more accessible and is not uncommon in many practices. In addition, myopia management treatment options are becoming the standard of care. Finally, providers are considering the entire ocular surface environment, allowing dry eye services to play an integral role in contact lens success.

From corneoscleral mapping devices to web-based digital lens design, advancements in specialty contact lens fitting are making the process more efficient and accurate. The equipment is becoming commonplace in many practices, and support staff can obtain readings or submit lens orders, lightening the practitioner’s load. Instead of spending several potential examination slots sorting through diagnostic scleral lenses, practitioners can use digital design technology to streamline the fit process.

While the instruments and lens design software are not all new, the programs are evolving and improving each year. Obtaining measurements takes significantly less time and effort, and providers have more options than ever before for modifying specialty contact lenses digitally. Specialty contact lens fitting is becoming accessible to more patients because of these changes.

Another arena seeing more attention and access for patients is myopia management. With treatment categories expanding, the rapid spread of myopia is beginning to meet its match. Ongoing research regarding atropine concentration efficacy is guiding providers across all modalities of practice, with 0.05% atropine maintaining the best results (Zhang et al, 2024). Multiple soft multifocal and orthokeratology lens options are readily available, and additional parameters are continually being released.

Peripheral defocus spectacles are readily available in other countries, and one design received Breakthrough Design designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021. Ideally, there will be more spectacles options for myopia management available in the U.S. soon, but none are currently FDA approved.

Having a variety of treatment options available leaves providers with no excuse for neglecting young myopes. However, more information and awareness are still necessary for myopia management to truly become the standard of care.

Beyond advancements in contact lenses and the technology surrounding them, there has been notable progress in managing the ocular surface. It is no secret that contact lens dropout is closely linked to dryness and discomfort (Pucker and Tichenor, 2020), so contact lens fitters naturally have a special interest in treating dry eye to ensure success with lens wear.

Throughout the past year, multiple companies either launched or promoted new products to combat dry eye, with an emphasis on meibomian gland dysfunction and the role of the eyelids (Chung et al, 2023). Patients can now receive treatments such as intense pulsed light, radio frequency, and low-level light therapy, or they can try a novel version of the pharmaceutical approach with one of the ophthalmic drops that was released in the last year. The best part about these dry eye treatment options is that they can be administered by the same providers who fitted the contact lenses, ensuring that patients are receiving truly comprehensive care.

Specialty contact lens design technology, myopia management options, and dry eye treatment all progressed significantly over the past year. These areas of growth, among others, will continue to advance the profession and ensure that patients receive the best, most thorough care possible.

REFERENCES

1. Zhang XJ, Zhang Y, Yip BHK, et al. Five-Year Clinical Trial of the Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: Phase 4 Report. Ophthalmology. 2024 Sep;131:1011-1020.

2. Pucker AD, Tichenor AA. A Review of Contact Lens Dropout. Clin Optom. 2020 June;12:85-94.

3. Chung HS, Han YE, Lee H, Kim JY, Tchah H. Intense Pulsed Light Treatment of the Upper and Lower Eyelids in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Int Ophthalmol. 2022 July;43:73-82.