Ready for a Revolution in Contact Lenses?

In late 2014, Optometry and Vision Science (OVS) put out a Call for Papers for an ambitious Feature Issue publication: “Revolutionary Future Uses of Contact Lenses.” This was ambitious because much of the research is being done by companies interested in protecting their investment, and much less (probably) is being published in scientific journals. But there is no denying that contact lenses are no longer simply thought of as being for the correction of refractive error to provide clear focused vision. The developments include imaging and new biocompatible materials. They also allow specific optical corrections to slow or prevent myopia progression, biosensing to monitor and diagnose health conditions (e.g. diabetes, glaucoma), appropriate delivery of treatment drugs, and even information transfer and delivery of messages. This month, our talented team of Guest Editors have not only put together some fascinating insights into the research progress in this area but point to the limitations in implementing some of the truly revolutionary ideas. The Guest Editor team, led by Lyndon Jones, has produced a very interesting collection of original research articles and reviews/perspectives. In addition, their Guest Editorial gives the reader an excellent guide to the range in content for the Feature theme issue. The Guest Editors are well known internationally and well respected for their understanding of the cornea and contact lenses. Lyndon Jones, OD, PhD, FAAO, our lead Guest Editor, is a Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University Research Chair and Director of the Centre for Contact Lens Research at the University of Waterloo. He graduated in Optometry from the University of Wales in 1985 and gained his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Biomaterials Research Unit at Aston University, Birmingham, UK in 1998. His research interests primarily focus on the interaction of novel and existing contact lens materials with the ocular environment, dry eye, and ocular drug delivery. He has authored over 300 refereed and professional papers and one textbook, and given over 700 invited lectures at conferences worldwide in over 30 countries. He has been awarded a number of national and international awards, including the 2014 “Glenn Fry Award” from the AAO, 2014 “Donald Korb Award” from the American Optometric Association, 2013 “Max Schapero Award” from the Cornea and Contact Lens Section of the AAO, and the 2011 “George Giles Memorial Lectureship” from the British College of Optometrists. Mark Byrne, MS, PhD, recently joined Rowan University as founding Department Chair and Professor within the Department of Biomedical Engineering after moving from Auburn University. Mark is a leader in the field of biomaterials engineering, controlled therapeutic delivery, polymer engineering, and biomedical devices. He has made significant and sustained contributions to the field of ocular drug delivery and is a pioneer in the evolving field of contact lens delivery. His group was the first to demonstrate controlled and extended release of therapeutics from novel contact lenses based on a rational design strategy of macromolecular memory of flexible polymer chains. He received his MS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. In 2011, he published the first in vivo evidence that a steady, effective concentration of drug can be maintained in the tear film from a contact lens for the entire duration of lens wear. Joseph B. Ciolino, MD, is a member of the full-time staff as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Joe is a clinician scientist whose research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense (DOD), and other funding organizations. He also has served as an advisor and medical monitor for over 25 ophthalmic clinical trials. Dr. Ciolino’s primary research focus is the development of a drug-eluting contact lens. The contact lens has demonstrated sustained release of therapeutic drug levels for up to 1 month. This technology has been covered by international news services including CNN, The Economist, Boston Globe, Reuters News Service, and Scientific American. Dr. Ciolino’s clinical focus is in corneal transplants, dry eye, keratoprosthesis, and diseases of the anterior segment of the eye. Jerry Legerton, OD, MS, MBA, FAAO, is an accomplished author, lecturer, vision scientist, and consultant to the ophthalmic industry. Jerry is an inventor on 48 issued US patents and more than 60 patents pending for contact lenses, refractive surgery, corneal refractive therapy, hybrid contact lenses, diagnostic devices, and contact lens enabled wearable display technology. His 26 years in the private practice of optometry enable him to balance the scientific perspective with practical clinical applications for eye care practitioners. He led the innovation, intellectual property, and product development for Paragon CRT® and the SynergEyes® family of hybrid contact lenses. He received the 2010 Achievement Award from the American Optometric Association, Cornea and Contact Lens Section and the 2011 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Orthokeratology Academy of America. He holds over 60 patents for his inventions. Maria Markoulli, MOptom, PhD, FAAO, is a lecturer at the School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of New South Wales. She completed her Optometry degree at the University of New South Wales in 2003 and has practiced in Australia since then. In 2005, she joined the Brien Holden Vision Institute as a Research Optometrist working on contact lens–related clinical trials. In 2008, she completed a Master of Optometry degree. In 2012, she was awarded a PhD at the University of New South Wales. In her research, she studied the etiology of contact lens–induced corneal erosions. Her first postdoctoral role was as a project manager of the meibomian gland dysfunction project at the Brien Holden Vision Institute. Maria was on the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society subcommittee of the contact lens discomfort workshop and is also involved in the Dry Eye Workshop II. She is a dual recipient of the William C. Ezell fellowship from the American Optometric Foundation, and in 2010 she was a recipient of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia research award.FIGURE 1: Top row: Lyndon Jones, OD, PhD, FAAO, Mark Byrne, MS, PhD, Joseph B. Ciolino, MD, Jerry Legerton, OD, MS, MBA, FAAO. Bottom row: Maria Markoulli, MOptom, PhD, FAAO, Eric Papas, MCOptom, PhD, FAAO, Lakshman Subbaraman, PhD, BSOptom, MSc, FAAO.Eric Papas, MCOptom, PhD, FAAO, is Professorial Visiting Fellow at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He completed his optometry and PhD training in the UK. Most of his career has been spent in research related to contact lenses and the ocular surface, during which time he was one of the inventors of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and discovered the link between limbal hyperemia and oxygen. Formerly Executive Director of Research and Development at the Brien Holden Vision Institute and Vision CRC, he has worked with all the major companies in the contact lens field making significant contributions. He has published over 100 articles and book chapters, holds 11 patents, has written over 160 confidential research reports, and mentored over 100 students in research projects at both undergraduate and graduate level. His current research involves the ocular surface and in particular the meibomian gland and the mechanisms of discomfort. He holds numerous leadership positions relevant to his Guest Editor role here. He recently received the Max Schapero Award from the section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies of the American Academy of Optometry in recognition of his contributions to the field. Lakshman Subbaraman, PhD, BSOptom, MSc, FAAO, is the Head of Biological Sciences and a Senior Clinical Scientist at the Centre for Contact Lens Research, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Canada. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed and professional articles in the area of contact lens discomfort, tear film biochemistry, and ophthalmic biomaterials and has presented at numerous conferences in 11 different countries. He is a two-time recipient of the American Optometric Foundation’s prestigious William Ezell Fellowship. He serves as a member of the American Academy of Optometry’s Research Committee, is on the editorial board of British Contact Lens Association’s peer-reviewed journal, Contact Lens & Anterior Eye, and also serves as a referee for several Ophthalmology, Optometry, and Biomaterial journals. Dr. Subbaraman is a Member of the International Society for Contact Lens Research, Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society and the Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology. Together these talented colleagues deserve our congratulations for this fine effort. As Editor-in-Chief during 2015, I enjoyed working directly with them. Now go forth and enjoy their Guest Editorial. Tony Adams Associate Editor Optometry and Vision Science

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