In this episode of Inside Intrepid, Jade Coats, OD, FAAO, and Adam Ramsey, OD, discuss recent developments in eyecare, emerging products, and clinical strategies to improve patient health and practice efficiency.
Dr. Ramsay is an optometrist, the owner of Socialite Vision in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and a co-founder of Black EyeCare Perspective, an organization that provides mentorship and education for pre-optometry students. Dr. Coats is an associate at Exclusive Eye in Fayetteville, where she provides comprehensive, patient-centered eyecare focusing on ocular surface disease and aesthetics. Prior, she spent the first decade of her career working in an OD/MD clinic.
Hygiene and replacement reminders
Educating patients on replacing makeup products, especially liquid eyeliners and mascaras, is vital to prevent eye infections. With these products being prone to bacterial contamination and applied in such close proximity to the ocular surface, even minor microbial exposure may lead to irritation, inflammation, or infection.1
Dr. Ramsey noted that some patients experience recurrent styes. To stress the importance of hygiene, he uses the analogy of an open cereal bag: “A box of cereal may say that it's good until 2028, but if you open the bag of cereal, it won't last until 2028."
Melissa Barnett, OD, designed EyeVida stickers, which are placed on makeup like mascara or eyeliner to remind patients to replace them every 3 months. Practitioners can apply these stickers at the point of sale to ensure adherence and encourage future visits for replacements and/or we can encourage our patients to purchase an entire pack for themselves to apply to all of their disposable makeup products. The same stickers could be used to remind patients to change contact lens cases regularly to promote better eye hygiene.
Ocular surface and aesthetic treatments
For ocular surface and aesthetic management, TearRestore WINQ Serum is an over-the-counter roll-on serum that contains cooling plant extracts, hyaluronic acid, and caffeine. It is designed to enhance comfort for patients with digital eye strain by encouraging more frequent blinking and potentially reducing under-eye puffiness and fine lines.2
Another product in the pipeline, the Azura AZR-MD-001 selenium sulfide formulation,3 uses selenium sulfide (commonly found in anti-dandruff shampoo) and features a unique twice-weekly nighttime dosing schedule to treat the lids and lashes. This nighttime, twice-a-week dosing may help reduce the burden of treatment for many patients.4
Advances in lens technology
Several advances in lens technology have been made, such as Newton Sequel Computer and Meeting lenses and Zeiss ClearMind.
Newton Sequel Computer and Meeting lenses are computer and office lenses, respectively, that use a base-in prism to reduce defocus from higher prescriptions and keep the eye centered.5 Dr. Ramsey noted, “We have some patients that don't drive in these glasses, but in their office, they just want to see the TV that's 10 feet away, a clock, the computer, and their phone. And if the office in the room is small enough, those types of lenses can be actually a great component for a patient, and a great addition.”
The ZEISS ClearMind lens is specifically engineered to eliminate peripheral blur, a common complaint among patients with high prescriptions.
Pharmaceutical and glaucoma management
Transitioning patients to preservative-free glaucoma medications is a great long-term strategy for ocular surface health. Bimatoprost ophthalmic gel 0.01% is a preservative-free option for protecting the ocular surface in glaucoma patients, who often experience dry eye.6
“I really thought it was cool that Théa now has a Bimatoprost Ophthalmic Gel 0.01 % that allows us to provide what we need in a unique muco-adhesive gel formula that doesn't have BAK," explained Dr. Coats. "That’s such a huge problem with a lot of our glaucoma patients; they have to use these medications, but it worsens their dry eye, and it doesn't help their ocular surface.”
Furthermore, presbyopia-correcting eye drops are emerging as an alternative or supplement to glasses and contact lenses. They help attract new patients and foster long-term relationships through refills and follow-up visits. Offering these products usually requires patients to return for office visits to obtain refills, which supports continuity of care.
Final thoughts
From lid hygiene protocols to preservative-free glaucoma therapies, the clinical updates discussed by Drs. Coats and Ramsey reflect a broader shift toward more patient-centered, surface-conscious care.
Emerging lens technologies and topical presbyopia corrections continue to expand the optometrist's therapeutic toolkit, offering solutions that address both visual performance and ocular comfort.
Staying current with these developments positions practitioners to improve patient outcomes while building a more engaged, returning patient base.
