A Look Back at the Best of 2024 in Optometry

As is typical in the optometric space, 2024 offered no shortage of technological innovations, diagnostic and treatment breakthroughs, and groundbreaking research—and Eyes On Eyecare was there to cover it all. Through articles, cheat sheets, and videos, our contributors provided top-quality educational resources for optometrists at all career levels, from students to early career ODs to long-established clinicians.

Here is a wrap-up of the best content and most relevant trends of 2024 with a focus forward to 2025. We have also combined our top downloads into one invaluable cheat sheet, which you can access later in this article.

Optimizing the ocular surface

It is estimated that dry eye disease affects 5 to 20% of the population in Western countries and 45 to 70% in Asian countries—this translates to approximately 20 million people in the United States and 344 million people worldwide who have been diagnosed with DED.1,2,3

Add in the undiagnosed in the US, and the number jumps to 30 million.2

In the Eyes On Eyecare 2024 Dry Eye Report, our respondents (most of whom are in private practice) estimated that well over half of their patient population—67.55%—had some form of DED.4 Considering these statistics it is no wonder that more and more emphasis is being put on addressing dry eye through incorporating point-of-care therapies and game-changing pharmaceuticals.

Delve deeper into dry eye disease:

A look at the latest in lenses

The last few years have continued to see expansion in the contact lens market with improvements in materials, advancements in “specialty” soft categories for astigmatic and presbyopic patients, expanded parameters, sclerals for irregular corneas, implementation of UV-blocking technology, self-lubricating surfaces, and more multifocal options.

Revisit some of our top contact lens content:

When discussing lenses, we would be remiss not to mention smart contact lenses that merge advances in material science, microelectronics, and biomedicine. These promising new lenses aim to provide real-time biometric data to allow for glucose monitoring of diabetes, tracking intraocular pressure in glaucoma, and medication delivery.

Get smart about smart contact lenses:

Smart Contact Lenses: A Focus on the Future

Artificial intelligence, real impact

When asked about the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI), Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, president of the American Medical Association, stated, “AI will never replace physicians—but physicians who use AI will replace those who don’t.”5 Within eyecare, AI is already being utilized to diagnose, monitor, and predict retinal diseases [e.g., diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), geographic atrophy (GA)] as well as glaucoma, cataracts, and corneal diseases.

Dive deeper into deep learning and AI:

The Role of AI and Machine Learning in Anterior Segment Disease Detection

Co-managing complex conditions

With broader access to advanced imaging technologies, expansion in scope of practice, integration of AI, and ophthalmology shortages in rural regions, the role of optometrist in diagnosing, treating, and co-managing complex conditions is increasing. ODs are finding they are the first line of defense in the early diagnosis, management, and referral of a variety of potentially sight-threatening conditions, including glaucoma, geographic atrophy, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, inherited retinal diseases, and ocular cancers.

Our optometry authors shared their expertise on some of the most complex conditions:

Educate, engage, entertain

One of the goals of Eyes On Eyecare is to consistently find new ways to make our content not only highly educational but entertaining. To keep readers increasingly engaged, we introduced new interactive elements to articles, including flashcards, quizzes, and downloadable cheat sheets.

And, as our gift to you, we have put together the ultimate collection of our top coding & billing, practice management, clinical, and pharmaceutical downloads.

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Eyes On Eyecare's Best of 2024

Enjoy our top cheat sheets, patient handouts, and checklists all in one convenient PDF,

Looking to the future

There are some very exciting pipeline treatments and pharmaceuticals set for release in 2025, including dry eye therapy devices, improved amniotic membranes, more widespread genetic testing for IRDs, requirements for prior authorization, and the utilization of AI and virtual reality for in-office diagnosis and at-home monitoring.

To fulfill our mission of providing the most relevant resources, we will be covering a vast range of clinical and non-clinical topics in 2025, all geared to keep you informed and intrigued.

Some of the subjects we’ll be covering in 2025 include:

Emerging Trends in Wet AMD Treatment
The Latest on the Role of Nutrition in Dry Eye
Insurance Challenges with Biosimilars
The Growing Specialty of Ocular Aesthetics
The Latest on Neuroprotection in Glaucoma
Cataracts and Dementia: The Sensory Deprivation Hypothesis
How Optometry Schools are Implementing DEI

For more on the highlights and lowlights of 2024, head over to Glance to see a rundown of 2024 FDA approvals and ophthalmic launches.

In closing

We at Eyes On Eyecare appreciate your loyal readership over this past year and are excited to continue to supply the highest quality of free, easily accessible, and accurate information to you throughout the upcoming months.