Top 10 stories of 2020 on Ophthalmology Times®

With a new year officially in swing, our editorial team has taken a pause to look back at the unprecedented events of 2020 — and the impact on coverage Ophthalmology Times® has published as a result.

As expected, COVID-19 took the spotlight for the most popular topic among readers. But not all of our pageviews went to the coronavirus.

Take a look at the top 10 articles that’s been most talked about — and read — in the last 12 months:

10. Alan S. Crandall, MD, remembered for impact on ophthalmology
In October, the ophthalmic community mourned the loss of Alan S. Crandall, MD, of the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. Former colleagues and ophthalmic leaders paid tribute.

9. Identifying the value of physician assistants in ophthalmology
In this video interview, Divya Srikumaran, MD, of the Wilmer Eye Institute, discusses the results of a study published in the American Journalism of Ophthalmology regarding the growth and shift of the physician assistant profession into specialty care as well as the more valuable role PAs are taking in providing healthcare.

8. Researchers find low risk of COVID-19 transmission in tears
Back when initial knowledge about COVID-19 was still coming to light, investigators in Singapore discovered that the virus does not seem to be present in the tears of patients.

7. What keeps you up at night in ophthalmology: Part II

In the second installment of our ongoing video series, clinical professionals and pharmaceutical representatives share what keeps them up at night within the ophthalmic and glaucoma space.

Watch the first and third installments here:

What keeps you up at night in ophthalmology?
What keeps ophthalmologists up at night: Part III

6. What the reopening of ophthalmology could look like
Nearly two months after issuing practice guidelines for ophthalmologists at the beginning of the pandemic, the AAO began taking steps in late April to consider the reopening of ophthalmology care. Professionals from around the country weighed in on how their own practices would proceed, pending state guidelines and individual institution's situations.

5. AMA, AHA, ANA issue open letter urging Americans to wear masks to slow spread of coronavirus
In light of a surge of COVID-19 cases hitting across the country during the summer season, the American Medical Association (AMA), American Hospital Association (AHA), and American Nurses Association (ANA) issued a join letter urging all Americans to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

4. AAO: New recommendations to EyeMDs for urgent, nonurgent care amid COVID-19
In the early days of the pandemic and issuing of stay-at-home orders, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) issue a statement strongly recommending all ophthalmologists provide only urgent or emergent patient care — including both office-based and surgical care.

3. Myths and misconceptions about autologous serum for dry eye
The logistics of prescribing autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs) have changed dramatically in the past few years, making their use far more convenient for patients and physicians alike. Joseph Tauber, MD, touches on common myths and misconceptions about ASEDs that are no longer true.

2. The eye and COVID-19: Providing facts, not fears
With a great deal of information and misinformation on COVID-19 spreading in the news last summer, Ella Faktorovich, MD, resorted to scientific literature to offer clinicians answers on how to provide a safe environment for patients

1. Researchers identify pink eye as possible primary symptom of COVID-19
Back in June, a team of researchers at the University of Alberta discovered that a case of pink eye may be reason to get tested for COVID-19.