EyeCon 2025: Creating a bridge of care through toric lenses with Jade Coats, OD, FAAO

Jade Coats, OD, FAAO, of McDonald Eye Associates, shared insights on toric lenses and the importance of early education around astigmatism correction at the Optometry Times and Ophthalmology Times EyeCon® 2025 conference, held September 26–27 at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida.

The Educational Committee for EyeCon 2025 included Coats; Joseph Allen, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, founder, Doctor Eye Health; Sruthi Arepalli, MD, associate professor, Emory University School of Medicine; and Tosin U. Smith, MD, attending physician and surgeon, Glaucoma Associates of Texas. Coats served as co-moderator of the session on toric lenses alongside Rahul Tonk, MD, associate professor of clinical ophthalmology, University of Miami Health System. Reflecting on the meeting, Coats said, “I was very honored to be part of the Educational Committee for EyeCon 2025. I’ve been part of it for many years, but this one in particular was really unique because it set itself apart … this one was really collaborative in ODs and MDs.”

According to Coats, many of the sessions were designed to highlight collaboration between optometry and ophthalmology. “Most of the education that we provided had panels that included both optometrists and ophthalmologists, and we were able to really dive deep into our different perspectives and how we can better collaborate for our patients.”

During her lecture with Tonk, Coats emphasized the role of toric lenses. “We talked about the general importance of how optometrists and ophthalmologists can collaborate and really offer this toric service to our patients earlier with not only glasses but contact lenses.”

This proactive approach, she noted, helps create a “bridge of care” from the optometric exam room to surgical planning. “Our responsibility as optometrists [is] educating our patients now so that when they are ready for cataract surgery, it’s a little bit easier because they are aware of their toric options.” Simulating toric correction early with contact lenses can be invaluable, particularly before cataracts complicate astigmatism. “Sometimes as the cataract develops, it can kind of worsen the astigmatism … it’s really difficult to simulate with contact lenses what it could be. And so it’s a lot easier the sooner that we can educate a patient,” Coats said.

She also underscored that many patients may not realize how much technology has advanced. “Sometimes it seems that maybe patients have tried this long ago … it’s kind of our job to educate them that even though they might have tried in the past, we should maybe try some other alternatives before they get ready for cataract surgery so that they will then maybe know all of their options.”

Coats concluded by emphasizing the value of shared learning: “There was a lot of education there that was really amazing that I couldn’t have gotten at any other lectures, again, having the ophthalmologists and learning from them and then being able to have the opportunity to learn from optometrists.” She added, “I think that the future of eye care involves both of us being partners, optometrists and ophthalmologists. And so I really love that EyeCon has taken the initiative to help us teach and learn and grow from each other.”

Looking ahead, she said she is already anticipating the next meeting: “I’m really looking forward to EyeCon 2026.”