June 6, 2024 — The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon are extending their education initiative to advance global, evidence-based education for dry eye disease, a chronic condition affecting 1.4 billion people worldwide. 

As part of the renewed collaboration, an updated WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel is now available, designed to improve optometrists’ understanding of dry eye disease diagnosis and management. The latest version includes information on diet, dietary supplements, in-office treatments, and complex treatments—comprehensive, evidence-based knowledge for use in various eyecare settings.

A dedicated website features a series of dry eye webinars presented by industry experts and provides a collection of resources for clinical and educational use.

“Extending our partnership with Alcon supports the education of optometrists globally about practical measures to better address dry eye, a condition that, without proper diagnosis and treatment, can lead to ocular surface disease,” says WCO president Sandra Block, O.D., M. Ed., MPH, FAAO, FCOV. “This year, we are planning more collaboration with university educators to increase access to the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel and related educational resources for future generations of eyecare professionals.”

“We are all becoming more aware of the growing incidence and impact of dry eye on our patients,” says Carla Mack, O.D., MBA, FAAO, FBCLA, head of global and U.S. professional education and development for Alcon. “Within the last year, we have seen publications further clarifying some of the issues contributing to this rise from digital device use to social and environmental factors.”