EACH YEAR, October marks our celebration of specialty contact lenses, with the entire issue focused on specialty lenses. Contact Lens Spectrum has published the Annual Report on GP and Custom Soft Lenses for more than 10 years running, which is an event to celebrate in and of itself. During this time, we have witnessed the growth of specialty lenses and new trends in the field, and this issue helps summarize some of these activities.

But you may wonder why specialty lenses are such a big deal to the contact lens community. Here are several reasons:

1. Specialty lenses can correct irregular cornea unlike no other form of correction.

2. Specialty lenses can improve the comfort and health of patients who have ocular surface disease, especially of the most severe forms.

3. Specialty lenses can be fitted with the most precise designs and parameters. This can improve and stabilize some of the toughest fits.

4. Specialty lenses can offer the most efficacious correction for astigmatism and presbyopia, but especially high astigmatism.

5. Specialty lenses allow eyecare practitioners to manage myopia in children and teens.

6. Specialty lenses provide options for cosmetic and prosthetic corrections resulting from birth and trauma.

7. Specialty lenses offer some of best options for visual correction (including higher-order aberrations), aside from spectacles, standard contact lenses, or surgery (eg, LASIK).

8. Specialty lenses are practice builders, allowing a practitioner to better serve patients and opening the door for referrals.

9. Specialty lenses offer practitioners opportunities for professional development when starting from scratch, empowering growth and entrepreneurialism.

10. Specialty lenses improve the quality of life for our patients.

The reasons we celebrate specialty lenses are numerous and could go on. But, whatever the reason, we continue to celebrate the growth of specialty lenses and hope to continue to support you in your growth in this practice area.