The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon have announced the renewal of their global education partnership aimed at advancing professional understanding and management of dry eye disease, extending the collaboration into its fourth year.
Launched in 2022, the initiative focuses on three key pillars of dry eye care — mitigation, measurement, and management — and has attracted widespread engagement from optometrists and educators worldwide. The renewed agreement reflects growing concern over the increasing prevalence of dry eye disease and the need for practical, evidence-informed educational resources for frontline eye care professionals.
Dry eye disease is a chronic and often debilitating condition affecting an estimated 1.6 billion people globally, with rising incidence linked to increased screen use, environmental factors, and an aging population. Without timely identification and appropriate management, the condition can significantly impact visual function and quality of life.
Commenting on the renewed partnership, Cindy Tromans, President of WCO, said, “[C]reating new ways to support dry eye education for optometrists globally is essential, as the disease can lead to additional complications and declines in quality of life without proper identification and management. Our collaboration in the months ahead will bring more innovations in dry eye disease tools and resources. ”
From an industry perspective, Carla Mack, Head of Global and U.S. Professional Education and Development at Alcon, highlighted the optometry community’s increasing engagement with dry eye care and detection. "Alcon is proud to partner with the World Council of Optometry on this multiyear educational initiative.," she said. "Together, we’re empowering optometrists to have more meaningful conversations — with patients and peers — about measuring, managing and mitigating dry eye disease in their communities."
A central component of the initiative is the dedicated educational platform dryeye.worldcouncilofoptometry.info, which hosts the WCO–Alcon Dry Eye Wheel. Developed in consultation with Professors Jennifer Craig, Lyndon Jones, and James Wolffsohn, the interactive tool is designed to guide clinicians through practical decision-making across the three pillars of care. The site also features a series of recorded educational webinars and a growing library of teaching resources for both clinical and academic use.
By continuing to expand access to structured dry eye education, WCO and Alcon aim to support optometrists worldwide in responding to one of the most common and complex ocular surface conditions seen in practice today.
Launched in 2022, the initiative focuses on three key pillars of dry eye care — mitigation, measurement, and management — and has attracted widespread engagement from optometrists and educators worldwide. The renewed agreement reflects growing concern over the increasing prevalence of dry eye disease and the need for practical, evidence-informed educational resources for frontline eye care professionals.
Dry eye disease is a chronic and often debilitating condition affecting an estimated 1.6 billion people globally, with rising incidence linked to increased screen use, environmental factors, and an aging population. Without timely identification and appropriate management, the condition can significantly impact visual function and quality of life.
Commenting on the renewed partnership, Cindy Tromans, President of WCO, said, “[C]reating new ways to support dry eye education for optometrists globally is essential, as the disease can lead to additional complications and declines in quality of life without proper identification and management. Our collaboration in the months ahead will bring more innovations in dry eye disease tools and resources. ”
From an industry perspective, Carla Mack, Head of Global and U.S. Professional Education and Development at Alcon, highlighted the optometry community’s increasing engagement with dry eye care and detection. "Alcon is proud to partner with the World Council of Optometry on this multiyear educational initiative.," she said. "Together, we’re empowering optometrists to have more meaningful conversations — with patients and peers — about measuring, managing and mitigating dry eye disease in their communities."
A central component of the initiative is the dedicated educational platform dryeye.worldcouncilofoptometry.info, which hosts the WCO–Alcon Dry Eye Wheel. Developed in consultation with Professors Jennifer Craig, Lyndon Jones, and James Wolffsohn, the interactive tool is designed to guide clinicians through practical decision-making across the three pillars of care. The site also features a series of recorded educational webinars and a growing library of teaching resources for both clinical and academic use.
By continuing to expand access to structured dry eye education, WCO and Alcon aim to support optometrists worldwide in responding to one of the most common and complex ocular surface conditions seen in practice today.
