The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon have renewed their education initiative to advance dry eye disease professional education globally.
A media release said the partnership’s multifaceted initiatives surrounding mitigation, measurement, and management of dry eye disease had garnered widespread exposure and interest since it began in 2022.
A chronic, painful condition, dry eye disease impacts 1.6 billion people worldwide.
Reports of a rise in occurrence correspond with factors such as increasing use of technology, environmental triggers, and an aging population, the release said.
WCO president Cindy Tromans, BSc (Hons), PhD, FEAOO, said: “We are excited to extend and build upon our partnership with Alcon for the fourth year.
“Creating new ways to support dry eye education for optometrists globally is essential, as the disease can lead to additional complications and declines in quality of life without proper identification and management.
“Our collaboration in the months ahead will bring more innovations in dry eye disease tools and resources. Clinicians and educators can employ these in both practice and academic settings,” she said.
Carla Mack, OD, MBA, FAAO, FBCLA, head of global and US professional education and development for Alcon, said: “The global increase in dry eye disease is concerning, but we’re encouraged by the optometry community’s strong commitment to improving detection and care.
“Alcon is proud to partner with the World Council of Optometry on this multiyear educational initiative. Together, we’re empowering optometrists to have more meaningful conversations – with patients and peers – about measuring, managing and mitigating dry eye disease in their communities.”
The initiative’s website, dryeye.worldcouncilofoptometry.info, includes the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, an interactive tool designed to assist optometrists with the identification and practical management of dry eye disease.
It was created in consultation with Professors Jennifer Craig, Lyndon Jones, and James Wolffsohn, and is designed for eyecare professionals to easily reference the three pillars of care: mitigation, measurement, and management.
The microsite also includes a series of dry eye webinars recorded with the professors and provides a collection of additional tools for clinicians and educators.
