2020: Ripe With Opportunity

There may not be a better year than 2020, which calls to mind 20/20 vision, for optometrists to not only reflect on the past, but also to be excited for the future of our profession. We all strive to give our patients the best vision possible, but there’s so much more that goes into eye care than 20/20 vision alone. We can capitalize on the year 2020 to remind our patients, families, friends, coworkers, and communities of the importance of regular, comprehensive eye exams and to educate them regarding how to maintain overall eye health.

Each year, optometrists have seen an expansion in our scope of practice, and, in response, Modern Optometry aims to help optometrists incorporate the medical management philosophy into their practices. With each expansion comes opportunities and challenges. Optometrists are the gatekeepers not only to eye health, but also to the overall health of many of our patients. Our involvement in detecting systemic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, will continue to grow as these conditions become more prevalent.

How can catering to patients with diabetes set you apart from other providers? Will telemedicine have a role in assisting optometrists with detecting and managing these conditions? How can optometrists best work synergistically with ophthalmologists to provide the best possible care to our patients? These are just a few of the topics addressed in this, Modern Optometry’s first issue of 2020.

In this issue you’ll also learn when to choose corneal crosslinking or scleral lenses as first-line therapy for patients with keratoconus, get advice on how to begin offering ocular aesthetics to your existing patient base, and find out about the role of nutrition in eye health and how to share that information with patients—plus more.

In today’s world, in order to be on the cutting edge of optometry, we must also be on the cutting edge of science and technology. The two of us wish all of you a Happy New Year. We hope you will find this issue of Modern Optometry to be one that helps you kick off the year 2020 with a vision for the future.