## 15 Health and Eye Care Headlines (February 2026)
1. AI in Triage: How ophthalmology nurses are using AI to prioritize urgent retinal detachment cases.
2. Global Shortage: The impact of surgical nurse vacancies on cataract surgery wait times in 2026.
3. New Prescribing Powers: RNs in specialized eye clinics now authorized to prescribe anti-inflammatory drops.
4. Tele-Ophthalmology: A new training module for rural nurses to perform remote fundus imaging.
5. Myopia Epidemic: School nurses lead the “Outdoor Hours” initiative to combat rising myopia in children.
6. Infection Control: Updated protocols for sterilizing multi-use tonometer prisms in busy clinics.
7. Patient Education: The role of the nurse in improving adherence to post-operative drop regimens.
8. Advancing Careers: Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner (ONP) roles see a 20% increase in national recruitment.
9. Gene Therapy: Specialized nursing care for patients undergoing RPE65 gene augmentation.
10. Geriatric Vision: Integrating vision screening into standard falls-prevention assessments in nursing homes.
11. Diabetes Management: The vital link between community nurses and diabetic retinopathy screening attendance.
12. Virtual Reality: Using VR headsets for pediatric “pre-hab” to reduce anxiety before eye surgery.
13. Workplace Ergonomics: New guidelines for nurses to prevent neck strain during slit-lamp assistance.
14. Sustainable Clinics: Reducing plastic waste in intravitreal injection packs—a nurse-led initiative.
15. Mental Health: Addressing the psychological impact of sudden vision loss: A guide for trauma nurses.