Industry news
Latest Eye Care Industry News The announcements that matter, without the noise.
Every day we review eye care news and press releases and keep only the announcements that change something for a practice: FDA actions, new devices, deals, payment policy, optical and contact lens news, and research worth knowing. Each item is summarized in plain terms, with why it matters for ophthalmology and optometry practices and a link to the original source.
Last updated: October 9, 2026
How we choose
What makes the cut.
An item stays only if it changes what an eye care practice can offer, prescribe, buy, bill or tell patients: an FDA decision or filing, a device launch, a deal that shifts the market, a payment rule, or a trial result or meeting report with real clinical weight. Routine marketing, awards and event promotion are left out. Every fact comes from the original announcement or a reputable trade source, and Vision Rescue does not rank or endorse products.
Regulatory
FDA and drug approvals
Aldeyra to appeal FDA rejection of reproxalap for dry eye disease
Aldeyra Therapeutics said it will file a Formal Dispute Resolution Request appealing the March 16, 2026 complete response letter for reproxalap, the third letter on its dry eye NDA. The company expects to file and meet with FDA's Office of New Drugs in the fourth quarter of 2026; the timing of any decision is uncertain.
Why it matters: The appeal decides whether another prescription dry eye option reaches the market. For now, the Rx choices used by optometrists and cornea and anterior segment surgeons are unchanged.
FDA sets advisory committee date for low-dose atropine SYD-101 in pediatric myopia
Sydnexis said the FDA will hold an advisory committee meeting, with an open public hearing, on October 30, 2026 to review its NDA for SYD-101, a low-dose atropine drop for pediatric progressive myopia. The product is approved in the EU and UK as Ryjunea; the company notes there is no FDA-approved drug for pediatric progressive myopia in the US.
Why it matters: A US approval would add an FDA-labeled drug to myopia management alongside the spectacle, contact lens and ortho-k options used in optometry and pediatric ophthalmology practices.
FDA accepts BLA for MOGENRY optogenetic gene therapy in retinitis pigmentosa
Nanoscope Therapeutics said the FDA accepted its Biologics License Application for MOGENRY (sonpiretigene isteparvovec, MCO-010), a single intravitreal, mutation-agnostic optogenetic therapy for adults with retinitis pigmentosa and severe vision loss. The filing is supported by the phase 2b/3 RESTORE trial.
Why it matters: If approved, retina specialists would gain a gene therapy not tied to one mutation, and optometrists and low vision providers would have a new reason to refer patients with advanced RP for evaluation.
Equipment
Devices and surgical technology
Volk launches ClearField Pro lens for retinal exams and laser treatment
Volk Optical launched ClearField Pro, a lens for retinal examination and laser indirect ophthalmoscopy with redesigned aspheric optics and an anti-reflective coating that the company says cuts reflectivity by up to 77%. Volk says the lens is 10% lighter than comparable lenses and remains usable through small pupils.
Why it matters: Exam and laser lenses are shared equipment across retina and surgical practices and medical optometry, so a new option is relevant when planning equipment refreshes.
Sight Sciences launches OMNI Ultra for implant-free glaucoma surgery
Sight Sciences began the commercial launch of the OMNI Ultra Surgical System, which performs ab interno canaloplasty followed by trabeculotomy through a single clear corneal incision in adults with primary open-angle glaucoma, alone or with cataract surgery. It builds on the OMNI platform, which received expanded FDA glaucoma clearance in 2021.
Why it matters: Glaucoma and cataract surgeons gain another implant-free MIGS platform, and co-managing optometrists will meet it in referral and post-op conversations.
FDA approves Rayner's RayOne Galaxy spiral IOL
Rayner announced FDA approval and US availability of RayOne Galaxy and RayOne Galaxy Toric, a non-diffractive IOL with a spiral optic designed to give a continuous range of vision while limiting halos and glare. The company says approval followed a US IDE study of more than 250 patients at 10 sites.
Why it matters: Cataract surgeons have another presbyopia-correcting lens to consider, and co-managing optometrists should expect patient questions about it before and after surgery.
Business
Business, M&A and industry
Harrow closes acquisition of Tyrvaya from Viatris
Harrow acquired worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to Tyrvaya (varenicline solution) nasal spray for $30 million in cash at closing plus up to $70 million in sales-based milestones. Tyrvaya joins Harrow's Vevye in its dry eye portfolio and is available through Harrow's commercial organization.
Why it matters: Practices that prescribe Tyrvaya may see changes in representative coverage, patient access programs and contracting as the product moves to a new owner.
Topcon launches Oku Digital Health to link eye imaging with primary care
Topcon Healthcare formed Oku Digital Health, a separate company building referral and data infrastructure so an eye scan taken in a primary care office can lead to a booked eye care visit, with the images traveling with the patient. Topcon reports more than 10,000 connected care locations; no outcome data have been presented yet.
Why it matters: Imaging-based referral networks could change how patients with diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and AMD reach both optometry and ophthalmology practices.
MyEyeDr. to acquire EyeCare Partners' optometry division
MyEyeDr. agreed to acquire the optometry division of EyeCare Partners, more than 300 offices across five brands including Clarkson Eyecare, EyeCare Associates, EyeCare Center, Nationwide Vision and The Eye Doctors. Financial terms were not disclosed, and closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 pending regulatory approvals.
Why it matters: Consolidation among large optometry groups can shift local referral patterns for surgeons and the competitive landscape for independent practices.
Payment
Reimbursement and policy
2025 MIPS final scores are out; review them before your 2027 payment adjustment
CMS has released 2025 MIPS performance feedback and final scores, which set each clinician's 2027 Medicare payment adjustment. The American Academy of Ophthalmology urges practices to check their scores and request a targeted review if they find an error.
Why it matters: Applies to every ophthalmologist and optometrist who reports MIPS. Errors can only be corrected through a targeted review request during the CMS review window.
Comments filed on the 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule proposal
The proposed 2027 fee schedule would set the conversion factor at $32.84 for most clinicians, 1.68% below 2026, and pay the lower-valued service at 50% when an office visit is billed the same day as a 0-, 10- or 90-day global procedure. The American Academy of Ophthalmology filed formal comments asking CMS to reconsider the same-day visit (Modifier 25), practice expense and MIPS proposals.
Why it matters: The same-day visit change would reach any eye care practice that bills an exam on the same day as a minor or global procedure, from injections and lasers to foreign body removal.
Eye care societies comment on the 2027 ASC and hospital outpatient proposal
ASRS, the AAO, ASCRS and the Ophthalmic Outpatient Surgery Society filed joint comments saying the proposed rule gives a modest increase for retina surgery in hospital outpatient departments but cuts ASC payment for the same cases further under budget neutrality. They asked CMS to create an ophthalmic emergency activation code; the final rule is expected in early November.
Why it matters: ASC payment levels shape where retina and other eye surgery can be scheduled, which matters to surgeons, ASC owners and the optometrists who refer and co-manage.
Optical
Optical and contact lens
CooperVision survey finds a familiarity gap for multifocal contact lenses
In an online survey of 752 US adults aged 38 and older, more than half reported little or no familiarity with multifocal contact lenses, and nearly half of those aged 38 to 42 said they would prefer to talk with their eye care professional before symptoms start. Respondents were introduced to multifocal lenses before ranking anti-aging options.
Why it matters: Points to a presbyopia education gap that optometry and ophthalmology practices can address at routine exams and cataract or refractive consultations.
EssilorLuxottica and Meta add new AI glasses at Meta Connect
The companies introduced Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 and a camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio line, which they describe as compatible with a wide range of prescriptions, plus new styles and wider availability of Meta Ray-Ban Display. They also announced an FDA-cleared hearing enhancement feature for US adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
Why it matters: Patients increasingly ask about prescription smart glasses, which affects optical dispensing, frame selection and lens ordering in practices with an optical.
CooperVision opens new Vision Centre and outlines six-lens pipeline
CooperVision opened a 9,940-square-meter innovation hub in Southampton, England, and outlined six contact lenses planned over the next several years, including a family of 1-day myopia control lenses, a premium 1-day silicone hydrogel and a 1-day silicone hydrogel toric multifocal. No launch dates or US availability were given.
Why it matters: Signals where daily disposable, toric, multifocal and myopia control options are heading for practices that fit contact lenses.
Clinical
Research and meetings
AAO 2026 opens in New Orleans
The 130th AAO Annual Meeting runs October 9 to 12 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, with Subspecialty Days on October 9 and 10 and the exhibit hall open October 10 to 12. Program themes include AI in imaging and clinic workflow, retina therapeutics, interventional glaucoma, emergency eye care and practice operations.
Why it matters: Many of the launches and trial results on this page are being presented here, so expect follow-up data and announcements over the coming weeks.
Study links GLP-1 use to earlier fellow-eye NAION
A retrospective Epic Cosmos analysis presented at AAO 2026 found that, among patients with NAION in both eyes, 56.8% of second-eye events in GLP-1 users occurred within six months, compared with 40.6% in non-users. The study shows an association, not causation, and GLP-1 users had higher HbA1c.
Why it matters: Supports recording GLP-1 use in the medication history of NAION patients. The lead author advised against stopping GLP-1 therapy based on these findings.
Glaukos reports 3-year Epioxa data in keratoconus
In a phase 3 extension of 38 eyes, Glaukos reported a 1.9 D improvement in Kmax from baseline three years after epithelium-on cross-linking with Epioxa, with no serious adverse events. Epioxa was approved by the FDA in October 2025; the extension data are uncontrolled.
Why it matters: Long-term durability data inform how cornea surgeons and the optometrists who manage keratoconus discuss epi-on cross-linking with patients.
Kodiak's tarcocimab and tabirafusp-ted meet phase 3 endpoints in wet AMD
In the DAYBREAK trial, both investigational agents were noninferior to aflibercept for vision gains at one year, and 54% of tarcocimab patients reached a 6-month dosing interval. Kodiak plans a multi-indication BLA for tarcocimab (Zenkuda) in the fourth quarter of 2026; results are company-reported topline data.
Why it matters: Longer-interval anti-VEGF options could change injection schedules in retina practices and the monitoring visits optometrists share with them.
4DMT starts phase 3 trial of 4D-150 gene therapy in DME
4D Molecular Therapeutics enrolled the first patients in 4SIGHT, a 514-patient trial comparing its single-injection gene therapy with aflibercept 2 mg every 8 weeks in treatment-naive diabetic macular edema. The primary endpoint is noninferior change in best corrected visual acuity at week 52.
Why it matters: One-time gene therapy for diabetic eye disease is now in late-stage testing, relevant to retina specialists and to optometrists who manage diabetic patients.
Stay current
Go deeper than the headline.
The news moves fast. The guides behind it are updated as products, evidence and labeling change.
Stay current. Open the Eye Care Learning Center for practice guides on every service line, or check the Sources page for the references behind our clinical and coding content.
Editorial notes
Summaries of public announcements, press releases and trade reporting, written for eye care professionals. Company-reported and topline results have not necessarily been peer reviewed, and investigational products are not approved for the uses described. Follow each link for the full original source.
Notes and disclosures
Educational material that supports, and does not replace, your own clinical judgment. Check device and drug details against current FDA labeling and the manufacturer's instructions before use. Scope of practice varies by state. Product and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners. Send news tips to providers@visionrescue.com.
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