World Council of Optometry, Alcon and IACLE advance Dry Eye Education
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon dry eye initiative has announced a new partnership with the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) to help university instructors easily access the program’s range of digital learning tools including the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel and the Dry Eye Management Map. Through the partnership, IACLE’s more than 1,100 members, from 86 countries spanning more than 600 academic institutions, can now gain direct access from the IACLE Teaching Online Platform (IACLETOP) learning management system, the organizations said.
“We are grateful to have an incredible partner in IACLE to help us spread the word about these resources,” said Cindy Tromans, BSc (Hons), Ph.D., FEAOO, president of WCO. “Dry eye disease is a growing issue worldwide, so it’s critical that educators be able to easily access the program tools and use them to educate the next generation of ECPs.”
“At Alcon, we are committed to helping eyecare professionals better understand, identify and manage dry eye disease through practical, evidence-based education,” said Carla Mack, OD, MBA, FAAO, FBCLA, global head of professional education and development, Alcon. “By expanding access to the WCO Alcon dry eye initiative through IACLE, we can help equip educators and students around the world with the latest tools that support consistent, patient-centered care today—and create new opportunities to advance dry eye education in the future.”
The recently released new version of the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel is updated with the latest recommendations from the recently published Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop III (TFOS DEWS III) report. The interactive wheel helps eyecare professionals (ECPs) worldwide support patients with dry eye using the three steps of mitigation, measurement and management, the announcement said.
The complementary Dry Eye Management Map is an online interactive tool designed to assist ECPs, educators and students navigate dry eye disease management in an evidence-based way. Both digital resources are available in a selection of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish, with more to follow, WCO said.
“IACLE’s involvement with the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel allows its members to directly access this resource and share this with their students, helping the next generation of ECPs to be patient care ready,” said Craig Woods, BSc (Hons), Ph.D., FAAO, FBCLA, executive manager of educational development, IACLE.
Dry eye disease is a chronic condition, impacting the lives of those who suffer from it and its symptoms. 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.
For more information on the WCO and Alcon dry eye initiative, click here.
