Catch up with what Optometry Times shared this week:

2024 in the rearview: Top stories from this year in optometry

By Emily Kaiser Maharjan, Assistant Managing Editor

As is tradition in popular culture, it's time to wrap up the year with a list of what happened here at Optometry Times. We traversed many topics together, from great strides in artificial intelligence (AI) to a renewed sense of urgency in myopia management research, and the editors and staff appreciate your readership this year and look forward to learning together in 2025.

But the fun isn’t over yet! This week, we’re showcasing top content from our colleagues at Ophthalmology Times, Modern Retina, and Ophthalmology Times Europe, so keep your eyes on us (and pardon the pun!) for more top eye care news from 2024.

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Evolving eye care with light therapy – Part 1: Low-level light therapy, the skin, and ocular surface care

By Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO

Light therapy is demonstrating an increasingly important role in eye care. Many of our patients benefit from us refracting light to optimally focus images on the retina. But in recent years, we have leveraged our understanding of how light wavelengths and light intensity can be used to manage conditions regarding the health of the ocular surface. Specifically, low-level light therapy (LLLT) and intense pulsed light have demonstrated tremendous benefits for our patients. In this 2-part series, we will explore these technologies at a deeper level. In this article we discuss the complexities of the skin, LLLT, and its role in ocular surface care.

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The human impact of geographic atrophy: Survey explores experiences and perceptions of patients living with GA

By David Hutton, Managing Editor, Ophthalmology Times

Geographic atrophy (GA), a progressive form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a condition that causes irreversible damage to the retina, leading to the gradual loss of central vision. Patients diagnosed with GA must contend with the debilitating effects of this vision loss, which can profoundly impact their daily lives, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life (QoL).

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A big helping of gratitude for the holidays

By Benjamin P. Casella, OD, FAAO

Who doesn’t love a good list? Who's not thankful for at least something this holiday season? If you answered ‘no’ to one or more of these questions, this month’s editorial just might not be for you. If you’re a thankful list-lover like your esteemed, balding, middle-aged optometric editor, enjoy!

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Study: Retinal vein occlusion patients face higher heart attack risk

By Lynda Charters

A new Chinese study reported a strong connection between retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and myocardial infarction (MI), otherwise known as a heart attack.¹ Study authors are led by Kai-Yang Chen, a medical student in the School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Hoi-Chun Chan, from the School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, and Chi-Ming Chan, MD, from the Department of Ophthalmology, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan and the School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, were study co-authors.

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