Editor's Perspective<br>The Rules That Shaped Contact Lenses</br> - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Editor's Perspective<br>The Rules That Shaped Contact Lenses</br>

  • By

  • JASON J. NICHOLS, OD, MPH, PhD

  • September 1, 2026

  • 2 min

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  • 1

    Contact lenses have undergone a significant regulatory journey, highlighted in a special commemorative edition of Contact Lens Spectrum.

  • 2

    The Medical Device Amendments of 1976 classified contact lenses as medical devices, establishing distinct regulatory pathways.

  • 3

    Historically, PMMA lenses had minimal regulatory oversight compared to the increased scrutiny of soft contact lenses.

  • 4

    Regulatory oversight influences clinical decisions, including off-label use and prescription verification under the Contact Lens Rule.

  • 5

    Emerging technologies like smart contact lenses and drug-eluting systems are reshaping the intersection of regulatory policy and clinical practice.

Original Source(s)

Editor's Perspective<br>The Rules That Shaped Contact Lenses</br>

  • by JASON J. NICHOLS, OD, MPH, PhD

  • September 1, 2026

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