The ebb and flow of the industry this year has been inspiring, but also fascinating to watch.
Resilience from optometrists and dispensing opticians in the first lockdown was there for all to see and most, if not all, of the practices that remained open for urgent patient needs have a few remarkable stories to tell.
All this work was undertaken with a certain level of risk attached to it – epidemiological and financial. Despite PPE and social distancing measures put in place, practitioners put their own health on the line for the sake of their patients. And, they did so without a clear picture of how they would be remunerated for their efforts.
Misinformation early on in the pandemic meant contact lens manufacturers felt the commercial pressure more than most. Mainstream media reports that included advice to contact lens wearers about switching to glasses was unhelpful to say the least, but the sector was quick to respond.
Research on mask associated dry eye (Made) not only highlighted potential problems caused by extended periods of face mask use but also allowed the contact lens industry to go on the offensive in an effort to solve another pandemic problem for spectacle wearers – fogging lenses.
Fogged lenses shouldn’t really have come as a surprise, but everyone from YouTubers to The One Show was letting off steam about their steamed-up glasses. Again, optics came to the rescue with a suite of products to prevent fogging. Most of the lens manufacturers had something in the locker already, thanks to the fad for anti-fogging products six or seven years ago. It’s funny how a range of products that were widely ignored on their initial release have found their own niche – for the next few months anyway.