Glaucoma 2026: Which emerging technologies will change practice?

In this latest EyePod podcast episode, Joel Schuman, MD, of Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, sits down with Sheryl Stevenson, executive editor with the Eye Care Network, to discuss emerging technologies that may influence glaucoma practice as clinicians look to 2026. The conversation focuses on technologies nearing clinical adoption, barriers to implementation, and considerations for integration into routine care.

Schuman identifies artificial intelligence (AI) as the technology most immediately positioned to affect glaucoma practice, particularly for imaging analysis and risk prediction. He describes near-term applications including automated detection of glaucoma progression using optical coherence tomography (OCT), color fundus photography, visual fields, and multimodal data that may incorporate electronic health record information. He notes that AI has already been adopted in retinal disease, citing FDA-approved diabetic retinopathy screening tools, and adds that “the performance really rivals expert readers and the regulatory pathways are clear.” Barriers include generalizability of results, workflow integration, liability concerns, and reimbursement.

Remote and home monitoring technologies are also discussed, including home tonometry, virtual reality–based visual field testing, and early handheld or kiosk-based OCT systems. Schuman notes that post-COVID familiarity with remote care has increased acceptance, while ongoing challenges include data reliability, patient adherence, data triage burden, and reimbursement structures.

Sustained- or controlled-release drug delivery represents another area of near-term relevance. Schuman references intracameral implants for intraocular pressure lowering, including Durysta and iDose, both of which are FDA approved. Additional implants under investigation target neuroenhancement or neuroprotection. He notes that while “the pipeline is maturing,” barriers include cost relative to generic medications, safety signals, patient acceptance, and workflow considerations.

Looking ahead, Schuman outlines factors that will determine whether new technologies integrate into routine practice, including evidence with meaningful outcomes, workflow impact, economic viability, interoperability across devices and electronic health records, and clinician trust. He notes, “The winners don’t have to be the flashiest tools in 2026. They’ll be the ones that make a busy clinic run better.”

The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of Schuman and do not necessarily represent the opinions of this publication.