2020 was like getting hit by a truck, except in this case the truck hits you every day for nine months.
Amid the massive tragedy of lives lost and families shattered by the virus, there was the almost incalculable damage done to employees who were laid off or furloughed; businesses and medical practices that had to close, sometimes permanently, after decades of successfully serving their customers and patients; and students who had to try to cobble together what often amounted to a substandard education on a tiny screen in their bedrooms.
In short, it was a nightmare.
Never in our recent—or even not-so-recent—history, have we collectively looked forward to the conclusion of a year the way we’ve looked forward to the end of 2020.
Though 2020 is behind us, we’re still not entirely out of the woods, as COVID-19 continues to plague the world, even as new vaccines slowly chip away at its grip.
However, even though some problems remain, we can still find some relief in bidding farewell to a miserable year, and turn our thoughts to the new year and what it represents in terms of renewal, rebirth and hope.
In that vein, let Review be among the first to show you something new in 2021: Our newly redesigned magazine.
Make no mistake, the articles and departments still feature the same practical, helpful insights you’ve come to rely on. Now, however, they’ll just be presented in a fresh, new way. I hope you can page through the new-look Review and, if possible, let us know what you think.
This month’s articles, too, maintain the theme of novelty.
Even though toric intraocular lenses have been around for a while, as the expert surgeons we spoke to for our feature on torics explain, there’s always something new you can learn about them and put to use in your practice for even better results in 2021.
Likewise, your colleagues who weighed in on their preferences for intraocular lenses in our survey report highlighted several of the new lens options that might hold the potential for improved outcomes in the coming year, as surgery centers attempt to return to some semblance of normalcy following the upheaval wrought by the pandemic.
In closing, I hope you and yours enjoyed a safe, happy holiday season. The staff of Review of
Ophthalmology wish you a healthy, prosperous New Year.
Here’s to new beginnings.
—Walter Bethke
Editor in Chief
