As part of their multiyear partnership to support professional education initiatives, the World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon have launched the Dry Eye Management Map. According to a joint press release, the new online interactive tool is designed to assist optometrists across the world in navigating dry eye disease management.
The Dry Eye Management Map merges ease of use with the latest Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop III (TFOS DEWS III) guidance by quickly generating applicable management approaches based on evidence-based options, according to the press release. An optometrist starts by choosing from 3 categories of underlying dry eye drivers—tear film deficiencies, eyelid anomalies, and ocular surface abnormalities—as well as corresponding subdrivers. Multiple selections are enabled for more comprehensive care. These inputs create a menu of potential management options for consideration, alongside standard and advanced testing options.
The resulting report represents a concise overview of the recommended and optometrist-selected dry eye disease management pathway. A built-in email function allows each summary to be emailed for later review and/or incorporation into patient records. While the tool supports clinical decision‑making, the optometrist retains full medical judgment and remains the ultimate decision‑maker in determining the appropriate course of care.
At launch, the Dry Eye Management Map is available in English, with additional languages expected in the coming months. This latest digital toolset complements the multilanguage WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, which uses a 3-step approach to managing dry eye—mitigation, measurement, and management.
WCO and Alcon’s dry eye education initiative is now in its fifth year. In addition to links to the Dry Eye Management Map and Dry Eye Wheel, the program microsite also includes a series of expert-led dry eye videos and additional professional tools. OM