AS WE CONTINUE THIS YEAR'S celebration of Contact Lens Spectrum’s 40th anniversary, this month we are reminded of the “Event of the Year,” which we have published since the late 1990s. To commemorate those events, we asked for your feedback on which were the most remarkable over the decades.

It was clear that myopia came out on top. From the first US Food and Drug Administration approval of a contact lens to orthokeratology to spectacles, readers are absolutely excited about all things myopia. But it does not stop there. Readers are also excited about what is in store for the future of myopia control—in fact, some even mentioned the idea of future treatments that might even prevent the onset of myopia. Wow! Now that is not nearsighted.

But there is more to it than myopia. Readers were also excited about the development of silicone hydrogel materials, the rebirth of scleral lenses, and the advent of the daily disposable modality. I would tend to agree—those were all milestone events in the recent history of contact lenses.

So, what are readers excited about in the future? A lot! There is no doubt that readers are excited (and perhaps nervous) about artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced manufacturing. For instance, will there be AI-driven fitting and precision lens design? On demand manufacturing with 3D printing? What about smart contact lenses? Lenses with electronic systems that could display information about autofocus?

Although there is much to be excited about, readers also expressed some concerns for the future. Is there a possibility of deregulation and over-the-counter contact lens availability? Further actions to separate contact lens care and sales? Will there be further vertical integration and what might be less competition? And, what’s the future of vision insurance coverage?

Looking back and looking ahead is always important because hindsight calibrates foresight. By combining the lessons of yesterday with the possibilities of tomorrow, you get the clarity needed to make the best possible decisions today.