On stage at 100% Optical: Dry eye in review

From clinical decision making, to new materials and social media, 100% Optical 2022 will see a programme of more than 130 engaging education sessions on topics from across optics. Ahead of the event, OT’s Q&A series highlights the key themes from just a few of the sessions that will take place during the show. The full series, along with further 100% Optical articles can be found here.

Could you summarise what the focus of your session will be at 100% Optical?

The focus of the session will be a comprehensive understanding of dry eye disease (DED) treatment and management options. The session will discuss the differential diagnosis and treatment options for varying types of dry eye and how we diagnose the different, and perhaps the overlapping, types of dry eye cases.

What are some of the key messages you wish to highlight around the management and understanding of dry eye?

Early differential diagnosis and a long treatment and management plan is the key. Research in the area is progressing fast: stay informed and stay connected for novel treatments. With an ageing UK population we will see more dry eye patients than ever before.

Who is this session for? Who might benefit the most from joining?

All types of eye care practitioners, including optometrists, will benefit as we have started to see more and more dry eye patients than in the past.

Why do you feel this topic is so important for optometrists and practice teams?

It is estimated that DED is currently afflicting more than 344 million people worldwide, and 20.8% of people in the UK, which is approximately 13 million British residents. The median age of the British population was 40.5 years in 2020 and is estimated to reach 44.5 years by 2050. Recently, a lot of optometrists have experienced a surge in dry eye patients, including young adults. This is why it is important in practice terms.