The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, a practical tool that helps with the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease, is now available in Spanish. Developed by world-renowned educators Professors Jennifer Craig, Lyndon Jones, and James Wolffsohn, the wheel is an at-a-glance, interactive tool designed to easily reference the three pillars of mitigation, measurement, and management. It is accessible to the Spanish-speaking optometry community at no cost via the WCO website at https://dryeye.worldcouncilofoptometry.info/interactive-dry-eye-wheel/.
WCO and Alcon initially partnered to develop the dry eye disease education initiative to raise optometrists’ understanding of dry eye and deliver resources on practical management. Dry eye disease can be a chronic, painful condition. About 1.4 billion people are affected by dry eye symptoms worldwide,1 with reports of increased occurrence aligning with notable factors such as increasing use of technology, environmental triggers, and an aging population.2
The education initiative brings together experts to share the latest dry eye disease data and science with clinical and academic colleagues. With 41% of people in Mexico and 13% of people who live in Brazil suffering from dry eye,3 continued education and resources directed specifically toward Latin American countries are much needed.
The availability of the Spanish wheel complements the recent publication of Latin American Consensus on Ocular Lubricants and Dry Eye (LUBOS) in Oftalmología Clínica y Experimental, the scientific journal of the Argentinian Council of Ophthalmology. The work aims to create a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for dry eye, focused on the proper use of lubricants.
“It was imperative that the wheel be available in Spanish, since it’s one of the most widely spoken languages in the world,” said Dr. Sandra S. Block, O.D., M.Ed., MPH, FAAO, FCOVD, president of the World Council of Optometry. “This latest development affirms WCO’s continued commitment to education around the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease. We are grateful to Alcon for their continued partnership in the fight against this global epidemic.”
The wheel’s Spanish translation was provided in collaboration with Colegio Federación Colombiana de Optómetras – Fedopto.
To use the Dry Eye Wheel in Spanish and discover other dry eye disease resources on the WCO website, visit: https://dryeye.worldcouncilofoptometry.info/interactive-dry-eye-wheel/
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1 MarketScope (2020) 2020 Dry Eye Products Market Report. A Global Analysis for 2019 to 2025. October 2020.
2 Stapleton F, Alves M, Bunya VY, Jalbert I, Lekhanont K et al. (2017) TFOS DEWS II Epidemiology Report. Ocul Surf 15 (3): 334-365.
3 Chen H, McCann P, Lien T et al. Prevalence of dry eye and Meibomian gland dysfunction in Central and South America: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Ophthalmol. 2024; 24: 50
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