WCO and Alcon introduce dry eye tool

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon will launch a new tool to help eye care professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease.

The WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel has been developed by Professors Jennifer Craig, Lyndon Jones, and James Wolffsohn, as an interactive tool for practitioners to easily reference the three pillars of mitigation, measurement and management when it comes to dry eye disease.

The new tool will be launched on 9 May during the webinar: Dry Eye Spotlight 4: WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel.

The online event marks the culmination of a series of global dry eye disease educational webinars hosted by WCO and Alcon.

Dr Sandra S. Block, president-elect of the World Council of Optometry, commented: “The three experts, Professors Craig, Wolffsohn and Jones, have been amazing in how they shared their expertise in treating dry eye disease and addressing the problems for optometrists globally.”

“This final webinar will culminate in a practical tool, the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, which will allow clinicians to integrate mitigation, measurement and management of dry eye disease into practice immediately,” she continued.

A live demonstration of the tool and question and answer session will follow the launch.

WCO and Alcon formed a partnership in 2022 to launch a dry eye disease education initiative, aiming to support optometrists’ understanding of dry eye and deliver practical resources on management.

Previous webinars have focused on dry eye disease mitigation, measurement and management respectively.

Carla Mack, Alcon Global and US head of professional education and development, said: “The prevalence of dry eye symptoms and those who have dry eye disease means as optometrists we will encounter this daily in practice.”

Mack suggested the new tool could help “deliver a great deal of knowledge and an easy-to-apply approach in eye care practices worldwide.”

“Alcon is proud to partner with the World Council of Optometry and our expert faculty as we work to raise awareness of dry eye and support optometrists in helping those who suffer,” Mack continued.

Registration for the event can be found online. Participants can select the relevant session for their time zone.