ODs predict 2026: What's to come in technology, dry eye, and glaucoma

For optometrists, 2026 provides ample opportunity to continue the charge in advancements in dry eye, artificial intelligence (AI), and glaucoma, among other specialties. With plenty of exciting avenues for expanding treatment options, ODs weighed in on what they predict the new year will bring for eye care.

Dry eye

Eye care providers such as Joseph Allen, OD, FAAO DipABO, and Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, DipABO, expressed excitement on the state of dry eye treatment options on the horizon. Allen said he has been closely following therapeutics being evaluated in fighting keratinization of the eyelid.

Notably, selenium sulfide (AZR-MD-001) 0.5% is currently being evaluated for abnormal meibomian gland function (MGD) and associated symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) in a phase 3 study. The ophthalmic ointment, in development to break down abnormal keratin, was previously evaluated in a randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter phase 2 study, which investigated the safety and efficacy of AZR-MD-001. The study took place from February 2021 to August 2022 and included 245 patients in 29 sites in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The patients were randomized between receiving AZR-MD-001 0.5%, AZR-MD-001 1.0%, or vehicle twice weekly at bedtime to the lower eyelid, with signs and symptoms of MGD assessed over 3 months. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the co-primary efficacy end points of increases in the MGYLS score and OSDI total score.

“That’s one [trial] that I’m paying close attention to,” Allen said.

Additionally, Koetting stated that she is hoping for more answers for her neuropathic pain patients in 2026. “I personally am seeing a lot of neuropathic pain patients and not always knowing what to do with them or having a good answer because it’s not just an ocular issue,” she told Optometry Times.

Notably, Okyo Pharma’s study evaluating the efficacy and safety of OK-101 0.05% and 0.1% compared to placebo from 2025 was terminated early due to a need to “expedite development and enable earlier FDA discussions. The company announced in late 2025 that it has plans for the next stage of clinical development of the drug, now urcosimod.

Artificial intelligence

Those like Shane R. Kannar, OD, identified continued solidification of AI in eye care as a development expected in the new year. “I think we're at a tipping point where using AI to better our profession, to allow us to provide better patient care, to become even more integral part of the healthcare stream,” he said. I think AI provides us that not only helping with diagnosis, but communication and facilitating referrals [as well].”

A literature review from earlier 2025 found that the field of optometry utilizes AI in order to enhance “the screening, prediction, diagnosis, and management of conditions such as refractive errors, strabismus, amblyopia, contact lens use, spectacle prescription, low vision, corneal issues, dry eye, and referral pathways.”

Glaucoma

As for glaucoma, Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO, DipABO, is anticipating genetics becoming a larger factor in the risk assessment and management for patients. A study from 2023 stated that “genetic and genomic studies, including GWAS, are contributing to identifying novel loci associated with glaucoma or to endophenotypes across ancestries to enrich the knowledge about glaucoma genetic susceptibility. Most recently, a study evaluated a novel dual-level pattern tree model for classifying visual field loss, which may outperform more traditional methods for predicting future vision loss and correlating with glaucoma genetic risk scores. “I think what is going to be most meaningful in ophthalmic care, specifically in glaucoma care, is the incorporation of genetics into our risk assessment and management through a patient's lifetime,” she said.

References:

1. Efficacy and safety of AZR-MD-001 selenium sulfide ophthalmic ointment in adults with meibomian gland dysfunction: A vehicle-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Watson SL, Jones LW, Stapleton F, et al; The CELESTRIAL STUDY Group. Ocul Surf. 2023;29:537-546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2023.07.002

2. NCT06329791. Azura Ophthalmics. A phase 3 study to evaluate AZR-MD-001 in patients with abnormal meibomian gland function and dry eye disease (DED). National Library of Medicine; clinicaltrials.gov. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06329791

3. NCT06637527. OKYO Pharma. The study assessing the safety and efficacy of OK-101 treatment in subjects with neuropathic corneal pain. National Library of Medicine; clinicaltrials.gov.

4. Harp MD. OKYO Pharma details next clinical stage of urcosimod development. Ophthalmology Times. September 22, 2025. Accessed January 5, 2026. https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/okyo-pharma-details-next-clinical-stage-of-urcosimod-development

5. Krishnan A, Dutta A, Srivastava A, Konda N, Prakasam RK. Artificial intelligence in optometry: Current and future perspectives. Clin Optom (Auckl).2025;17:83–114. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S494911

6. Tirendi S, Domenicotti C, Bassi AM, Vernazza S. Genetics and glaucoma: The state of the art. Front Med. 2023;10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1289952

7. Song L, Shen LQ, Pasquale LR, et al. Dual-level pattern tree for visual field improves glaucoma progression and polygenic risk prediction. Translat Vis Sci Tech. 2025;14(11). https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.14.12.11