Clinical Scorecard: News Roundup from Academy 2026

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• In a 16-patient contralateral-eye pilot study, Rinsada lavage followed by olopatadine 0.7% was associated with a median 2-point improvement in itch at 15 minutes, versus no median improvement with olopatadine alone; investigators characterized the findings as supporting further investigation. The company reported symptom reduction through 21 days in most Rinsada-treated eyes.
• Moisture retention index (MRI) describes contact lens material moisture retention under specified environmental conditions, but has not been prospectively correlated with clinical comfort or dryness.
• Perimenopause-related hormonal changes and presbyopia can contribute to vision changes around the same life stage, but the article states there is no causal relationship between them.
• SightGlass reports that 97% of children adapt to DOT lenses within 2 to 3 days and that most exceed the instructed 10-hour wear time; DOT lenses are not yet available in the United States.
• A report based on 20 U.S. optometric practices and 600 patients found that, over four years, spherical and toric contact lenses were 80% more profitable and multifocal contact lenses were 30% more profitable than single-vision and progressive spectacle lenses.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• The article provides no formal diagnostic criteria or testing recommendations.

Management

• Dr. Bishop recommends proactively asking patients about symptoms, addressing ocular surface disease and presbyopic correction separately, and referring to a primary care physician or OB-GYN when systemic symptoms warrant further evaluation.
• Dr. Bishop suggests patient education resources such as brochures, QR codes, or videos to explain expected vision changes and available treatment options.
• SightGlass says clinicians should not overstate DOT lens adaptation and may encourage full-time wear as with single-vision lenses.

Monitoring & Follow-up

Risks

• The article does not establish MRI as a predictor of contact lens comfort or dryness.
• The article states that hormonal changes and presbyopia may have overlapping visual effects but are not causally related.
• The Rinsada study was a 16-patient pilot; investigators characterized the findings as supporting further investigation.

Patient & Prescribing Data

The article reports a pilot study in 16 patients with active allergic conjunctivitis and a history of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis; a survey of U.S. female eye care professionals; and reports concerning children using DOT lenses and contact lens profitability in U.S. optometric practices.

In the pilot, one eye received Rinsada lavage followed five minutes later by olopatadine 0.7%, while the fellow eye received olopatadine alone. The company reported symptom reduction through 21 days in most Rinsada-treated eyes. The article also reports company data on DOT lens adaptation and wear, and practice-based profitability comparisons: spherical and toric contact lenses were 80% more profitable and multifocal contact lenses 30% more profitable than single-vision and progressive spectacle lenses over four years.

Clinical Best Practices

• Do not present MRI as a demonstrated predictor of comfort; the article notes that prospective clinical correlation has not been established.
• Dr. Bishop recommends proactively asking patients about symptoms and addressing ocular surface disease and presbyopic correction separately.
• Dr. Bishop suggests using brochures, QR codes, or videos to explain expected vision changes and available treatment options.
• SightGlass says clinicians should not overstate DOT lens adaptation and may encourage full-time wear as with single-vision lenses; DOT lenses are not available in the United States.

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