To celebrate our 40th year, Eyecare Business reached out to our board members and past #EBGameChangers for their thoughts on how eyewear and eye care have changed since our launch in 1986. Here are reflections from 2023 EB Game Changer, Steven J. Ferguson, OD, of Dunes Eye Consultants in South Dakota:
“Having practiced eye care for more than 3 decades, I’ve witnessed an extraordinary evolution in science and technology that allows us to protect and enhance the gift of sight in ways we could hardly have imagined years ago. Today, we are using technologies such as red light therapy for macular degeneration, therapeutic optics to influence the neural visual system, advanced treatments for dry eye and ocular surface disease, and even intraocular lenses that can be adjusted after implantation. Our ability to diagnose disease earlier, personalize treatment, and improve how patients see, feel, and function has never been greater. After all these years, I am more excited about practicing eye care today than I have ever been.
“Eyewear has undergone an equally impressive transformation, evolving from simply a necessity into a combination of fashion, function, and personal expression. Advances in lens optics, materials, aberration control, and customization allow us to create eyewear specifically around an individual patient’s visual needs and lifestyle while helping them look and feel confident. Contact lenses have similarly advanced with better materials, designs, vision, and comfort. The ability to truly customize how people see, function, and look represents one of the most exciting changes I’ve witnessed throughout my career.”