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Welcome to Optometry Simplified.

In this biweekly newsletter, I've curated the best resources to help you grow personally and professionally.

My mission is to find what's best for my patients and my practice.

Here's what I've found...

My Favorite Links

How Much Should You Pay Yourself as an OD Owner?

Every OD-owner wrestles with this: what’s a fair salary? This article gives a thoughtful, practice-size-adjusted framework for setting your pay and avoiding the “starving CEO” trap that leaves your finances out of sync with your business success. Independent Strong​

How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?

Parents ask us constantly about screen time, and this breakdown offers real-world insight from research on dose-dependent risks. It’s a must-read for refining your guidance on digital device exposure in kids with myopia risk. Myopia Profile​

What Patients Really Think About AI in Healthcare

Before getting too excited or skeptical about AI in clinical care, this article reminds us to tune into the patient voice. It’s a fascinating look at our patients' hopes and hesitations about artificial intelligence in the exam room. Review of Optometric Business​

Journal Articles I'm Applying to Practice

Comprehensive Clinical Guide to Nystagmus​
This in-depth review walks through the full diagnostic process and therapeutic options for managing nystagmus. It is ideal for ODs wanting to improve how they triage and co-manage complex motility cases. Clinical Ophthalmology​

Physical Activity and Glaucoma Progression​
Emerging evidence shows that higher levels of physical activity are associated with a slower rate of visual field loss in glaucoma patients. It's a compelling reminder to counsel our patients on systemic lifestyle factors that impact ocular outcomes. Journal of Glaucoma​

Sleep Apnea Triples Dry Eye Risk​
This quick-hit study confirms what many of us have suspected: sleep apnea is linked to a significantly higher risk of DED. Time to get more proactive in asking the right questions during dry eye consults. ARVO Meeting 2025​

Deep Dive

Is Qlosi the Next Game-Changer in Eyecare?

Qlosi (pilocarpine 0.4%) may be the most promising presbyopia drop yet.

In the NEAR-1 and NEAR-2 trials, 40.1% of patients achieved a ≥3-line improvement in near visual acuity in the study eye, compared to 19.1% with placebo. That gives us a Number Needed to Treat (NNT) of approximately 5.

Let’s pause on that. NNT is a simple but powerful metric: it tells us how many patients need to be treated for one to benefit. Remember, you calculate it as 1 ÷ Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR).

In this case:

1 ÷ (0.401 − 0.191) = ~5

That means, for every 5 patients given Qlosi, one additional person sees a meaningful clinical improvement compared to placebo.

This helps us move beyond statistical significance and into real-world expectations—something that matters when counseling patients and choosing treatment options.

For comparison, Vuity’s GEMINI 1 trial reported that 30.7% of patients achieved a ≥3-line gain in binocular near vision without ≥1-line loss at distance, compared to 8.1% in the placebo group. That gives us:

1 ÷ (0.307 − 0.081) = ~4.4

So, Vuity’s NNT is approximately 4–5, depending on the study, which puts it in a similar efficacy range to Qlosi.

But there's a nuance worth noting: Qlosi’s results are monocular, while Vuity’s (from GEMINI and VIRGO) were binocular.

That makes direct comparisons tricky, especially when evaluating functional visual outcomes in day-to-day life.

So is it a game-changer?

For some patients, perhaps. Lower concentration (0.4% vs. Vuity’s 1.25%) may reduce side effects. Onset is fast. Duration is decent. And if someone is motivated to avoid readers for specific tasks, Qlosi might be the right tool.

But like any tool, its value depends on the context. This isn’t a replacement for progressive lenses, multifocal contacts, or refractive lens exchange—but it is a viable option we’re glad to have in the toolbox.

New at Practice Performance Partners

In this episode of the Book Nerds podcast, we dive into Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 by Jim Collins—a masterclass in building enduring companies with disciplined leadership, clear vision, and values that scale.

Whether you're running a solo practice or leading a growing team, this book reframes strategy as a moral responsibility, not just a business tactic.

Can you do me a favor? If you found any of these resources helpful, share this newsletter with one of our colleagues!

See you in 2 weeks!

--Kyle Klute, OD, FAAO

1515 S 152 Avenue Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144
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