At 100% Optical last week I had the pleasure of speaking on Dry Eye Management with my dry eye expert optometrist colleague Caroline Christie.
High Street optometrists play an important role in managing dry eye, one of the commonest eye conditions presenting to them. Having a comprehensive protocol to assess dry eye patients is essential. A major factor in successful dry eye management is recognition of and effective treatment of Meibomian oil gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye. Computer screen -associated dry eye is also very common. Criteria for referral to a specialist ophthalmologist include (1) persistent symptoms despite correcting Meibomian oil gland dysfunction and optimising eye lubricant technique and formulation (2) severe disease with mucus filaments, corneal erosions, incomplete eyelid closure, eyelash problems (3) when underlying autoimmune disease (Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis) is suspected.