Clinical Scorecard: Editor's Perspective: Are We Ready for What's Next?
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Contact lens use and innovation
Key Mechanisms
Advancements in contact lens technology including health monitoring, virtual reality integration, and specialized optics
Target Population
Contact lens wearers and eye care professionals
Care Setting
Ophthalmic and optometric clinical settings
Key Highlights
Celebration of 40 years of Contact Lens Spectrum publication and reflection on 100 years of contact lens history.
Survey conducted to identify the most impactful contact lens event in the past 40 years.
Future contact lens technologies may include health status monitoring, virtual reality applications, and telescopic or microscopic optics requiring novel designs and materials.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Ongoing clinical trials and testing are necessary to evaluate new contact lens technologies.
Management
Adopt advanced contact lens designs and materials as they become clinically validated.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor ocular health closely when introducing novel contact lens technologies.
Risks
Unique designs and materials may pose new challenges for ocular surface compatibility.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Contact lens wearers adapting to emerging technologies
Future lenses may provide additional functionalities such as health monitoring and enhanced vision capabilities, requiring tailored clinical approaches.
Clinical Best Practices
Stay informed about evolving contact lens technologies and their clinical implications.
Participate in or review outcomes from clinical trials for new lens designs.
Educate patients on potential benefits and risks of advanced contact lenses.
Discover how innovative channel modifications in scleral lenses can significantly enhance tear exchange and mitigate common complications, according to recent findings by Dr. Melissa Barnett.
In their keynote address to the 2026 Global Specialty Lens Symposium, Craig W. Norman and Patrick J. Caroline recounted the evolution of the event over the past 2+ decades.
