What happened in optometry this week: January 29-February 2

Blog
Article

Catch up on what happened in optometry during the week of January 29-February 2.

Catch up with what Optometry Times shared this week:

FDA warns consumers of contaminated copycat eye drops

By David Hutton, Managing Editor, Opthamology Times

The FDA has issued a warning to consumers not to purchase or use South Moon, Rebright, or FivFivGo eye drops because of the potential risk of eye infection.

According to an FDA news release, the drops in question are copycat eye drop products that consumers can easily mistake for Bausch + Lomb’s Lumify brand eye drops, an over-the-counter product approved for redness relief.

Read more...

New report estimates $151 billion in health system, productivity costs due to unmanaged screen time in 2023

By Jordana Joy, Associate Editor

The American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Deloitte Economics Institute released a report January 30 on the implications of unmanaged screen time and found that working in front of screens generated health system, productivity, and personal wellbeing costs equivalent to an estimated $151 billion in 2023. The report, entitled, “The impact of unmanaged excessive screen time in the United States” was developed in part of AOA’s national public awareness campaign Eye Deserve More, according to a news release.

Read more...

Posterior cortical atrophy study highlights importance of Alzheimer disease biomarker testing

By Jordana Joy, Associate Editor

A new international exploratory descriptive study strongly reinforces the connection drawn between Alzheimer disease and posterior cortical atrophy (PCA).

First author Marianne Chapleau, PhD, and a team of investigators found that previous, smaller studies indicating that PCA typically presents as a pure, early onset dementia syndrome that strongly correlates with underlying Alzheimer disease pathology were correct.

Read more...

What’s your clinical protocol for managing diabetic retinopathy?

By Michael Cymbor, OD, FAAO

According to recent projections, by 2060, nearly 18% of US adults (60.6 million) will have diabetes. That number is currently 38.4 million. Twenty-six percent of them have diabetic retinopathy (DR). What’s more, all of those patients are at risk of developing vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. By 2050, the prevalence of DR is predicted to nearly triple and, without treatment, the patients with high-risk proliferative DR have a 50% chance of becoming blind within 5 years. These figures are concerning and have made me question what I can do to make a difference for the patients who rely on me for primary eye care services.

Read more...

Looking forward to improving and lessening the allergic response

By Shawna L. Vanderhoof, OD, FAAO

Looking forward implies the anticipation of something favorable. Do allergy sufferers look forward to a new season? What could they do now before the upcoming allergy season to reduce their symptoms?

As eye care professionals, we encounter patients with recurrent symptoms suffering from not only ocular allergies but also skin issues that significantly impact their quality of life. In addition to their ocular symptoms of itching, redness, and tearing that you discuss during an eye exam, ask about other allergy symptoms such as scratchy throat, postnasal drip, and skin rashes or breakouts.

Read more...

Newsletter

Want more insights like this? Subscribe to Optometry Times and get clinical pearls and practice tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Recent Videos
Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO, detailed a talk she gave alongside Mary Beth Yackey, OD, at Optometry's Meeting 2025.
Shelby Brogdon, OD, details opportunities for practices to answer the patient's concerns from the chair before they hit the internet for their contact lens needs.
Christi Closson, OD, FAAO, shares her excitement for the new Acuvue Oasys MAX 1-Day multifocal for astigmatism
Karen R. Hoffman, OD, shares how customizable scleral lenses can transform vision for patients with complex corneas, achieving 20/20 outcomes and enhanced comfort.
Janna Pham, OD, shares key takeaways from a corneal tomography session she presented alongside Travis Pfeifer, OD, and Matthew McGee, OD.
Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO, details early symptom relief demonstrated in as early as day 1 during AOA's Optometry's Meeting 2025.
When Langis Michaud, OD, MSc, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, FEAOO, began fitting scleral lenses 20 years ago, there was limited knowledge about conjunctival characteristics, scleral shape, and lens behavior.
Ioussifova details what sets Johnson & Johnson's new lens apart from the rest, which was launched at the American Optometric Association's Optometry's Meeting 2025.
Alongside Rachel Steele, OD, Rafieetary outlines what to look for in blurred disc margins and the importance of acting fast and sending patients to the ED when needed.
Langis Michaud, OD, MSc, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, FEAOO, emphasized that every staff member should play a role in myopia management during his presentation at Optometry's Meeting 2025.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.