We’ve all heard the phrase, “If you change nothing, nothing will change.” Although there’s nothing wrong with stability and consistency, when it comes to cer-tain areas of life, let’s face it, change is

necessary. For example, where would we be now if the devices, techniques, and technologies used in optometry hadn’t changed in the past 50 years?

Grace Murray Hopper, an American computer scientist and US Navy rear admiral, once stated that the most damaging phrase in the English language is, “We’ve always done it this way.” Fortunately, those words never passed the lips of our ophthal-mic and optometric visionaries, and today we have them to thank for the amazing world in which we now practice. However, there is always room for improvement, and this issue focuses on recent trends and innovations in the eye care space.

Jaclyn Garlich, OD, FAAO; Roya Habibi, OD, FAAO, FSLS; and Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, discuss new technologies coming down the pike, from myopia control to IOLs, in their contribution to this issue, “Latest Innovations and Future Directions in Optometry” (page 18). In a more focused discussion, Fayiz Mahgoub, OD, provides a review of assistive techniques in his article, “Cracking the Scleral and Hybrid Lens Insertion Puzzle,” on page 32.

If you find yourself wondering why it’s important to stay at the forefront of technology, wonder no more. Aaron Lech, OD, FAAO, tackles this topic on page 24, with a specific focus on investing in technol-ogies for the optometric practice. Jessilin Quint, OD,

MBA, MS, FAAO, also has recommendations for the business-minded optometrist in her article, “Next-Level Business Technologies,” in which she shares a business owner’s perspective on some must-have technologies to implement in an optometric practice (page 29). Perhaps the most intriguing article in this issue’s cover focus is authored by Lindsay Ciocco, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, and Benjamin Wu, OD. They review the strategies being explored to halt or reverse the effects of aging in their article, “The Emergence of Longevity Biotechnology in Eye Care,” on page 26.

If you get behind and don’t have time to read all of the articles in this issue, keep in mind that every month, Modern Optometry’s podcast The MOD Pod features selected articles from each issue, so you can catch up in audio form. (September arti-cles will be featured in the October episode.)

Our next issue will delve into cataract and refractive surgery, covering topics from preopera-tive cataract surgery considerations to the OD’s role in postoperative refractive surgery care and much more. The issue will also feature a photo essay series, a feast for the eyes.

We plan our topics and articles with you, our readers, in mind, and we’d love your feedback. If you find something particularly helpful, let us know! Likewise, if you want us to cover a particular topic or issue, drop us a line at modernOD@bmctoday.com. Have an article idea or amazing photo you’d like to share? Send it our way!

Thanks in advance for reading this issue of MOD. We hope it will spark a sense of innovation and creativity within you. Stay healthy and be well! n

FORWARD THINKING IS TRANSFORMATIONAL

JUSTIN SCHWEITZER, OD, FAAO

CO-CHIEF MEDICAL EDITOR

LESLIE O’DELL, OD, FAAO

CO-CHIEF MEDICAL EDITOR

4 | SEPTEMBER 2021

@ModOptom ModOptometry @ModOptometry Modern Optometry

WALTER WHITLEY, OD, MBA, FAAO

CO-CHIEF MEDICAL EDITOR