ST. LOUIS—The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon announced they have released a new version of the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, which has been updated with the latest recommendations from the recently published Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop III (TFOS DEWS III) report. The wheel helps eyecare professionals worldwide support patients with dry eye using the three steps of mitigation, measurement and management, the announcement said, and these updates reflect the inclusion of dry eye etiological drivers, the OSDI-6 symptomatology questionnaire, and some new and refined management options. The Dry Eye Wheel is available to access for free here.
“Advancing the understanding and management of dry eye disease remains a core priority for Alcon, driven by scientific innovation and meaningful collaboration,” said Carla Mack, OD, MBA, FAAO, Dip(AAO), FBCLA, global head of professional education and development at Alcon. “Ahead of the Dry Eye Awareness Month, we are proud to introduce and support eyecare professionals around the world with interactive easy-to-use resources like the Dry Eye Wheel, designed to help improve how this complex condition is diagnosed and managed.”
The latest wheel iteration complements the jointly produced Dry Eye Management Map, an online interactive tool designed to assist ECPs navigating dry eye disease management, the groups said. Both are available in a selection of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish, with more to follow. While these tools support clinical decision making, the optometrist retains full medical judgment and remains the ultimate decision maker in determining the appropriate course of care, the announcement said.
Carla Mack, OD, MBA, FAAO, Dip(AAO), FBCLA, (l) and Cindy Tromans, BSc (Hons), PhD, FEAOO.
“Clinicians and educators who use the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel as part of their daily practice can be assured that it reflects the most current consensus recommendations from the world’s top experts,” said Cindy Tromans, BSc (Hons), Ph.D., FEAOO, president of WCO.
The website for the broader WCO Alcon Dry Eye initiative also includes a three-video series to help ECPs better comprehend the latest recommendations from the TFOS DEWS III report. The videos summarize the overall report, review the diagnostic methodology section, and highlight elements of the management and therapy report.
Dry eye disease is a chronic and painful condition, according to WCO. Reports of this epidemic are rising in occurrence and correspond with factors such as increasing use of technology, environmental triggers, and an aging population. Nearly 1.6 billion people around the world suffer from dry eye disease every day.
More information about the WCO and Alcon dry eye initiative can be found here.
