What an eye-opening year 2021 has been for eye care! Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, research advanced in every area of ocular health and vision care, from basic science to clinical practice. Notable firsts in 2021 included the discovery of a new type of cell in the retina in more than 100 years, the discovery for the first time of DNA in the cytoplasm of cells (and its detrimental interactions with the inflammasome), the preliminary success of CRISPR gene editing for Leber congenital amaurosis in human subjects, the success of using optogenetics to restore partial vision to the blind, implanting a visual prothesis directly onto the human brain, several smart cane prototypes, a plethora of in vitro disease models and therapeutic candidates for the treatment of a variety of eye diseases, advances in various imaging technologies, and much progress in our understanding of the complexity of the visual system. This year also gave us a large gene atlas of eye disorders, an in-depth genetic study of iris cell types, a more nuanced classification system of 25 uveitis subtypes, the identification of 50 new genes contributing to eye color, the identification of 127 genes contributing to glaucoma, a better understanding of the interplay between the eye and the immune system, association studies both linking eye diseases to diverse mental health risks as well as firm evidence of surgical interventions making a positive and significant impact. In the optometric space, this year saw advancements in contact lenses as theranostics, new treatment options for presbyopia, and continued efforts in the delivery of vision care to underserved communities.
C heers to 2022 continuing to shed light on the importance of cutting-edge research to the advancement of knowledge, the improvement of patient care, and the creation of a brighter world.
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