Clinical Consultations™: Redefining Dry Eye Disease - Focusing on the Tear Film: Stability, Diagnosis, Homeostasis, & COVID-19 Considerations in DED

Release Date: June 30, 2021
Expiration Date: June 30, 2022

Activity Overview

Dry eye disease (DED) affects about 7% of the US population, and if left untreated, can affect vision and negatively impact quality of life. Eye care experts in DED have recently developed a new definition of DED intended for use worldwide and aimed at providing eye care professionals with a practical tool to help diagnose DED precisely and consistently, using devices already available in the clinic. In this program, two ophthalmologists who specialize in DED review the increasing prevalence of this disease in the digital era and examine the impact of COVID-19 and mask-wearing on its incidence. They also discuss steps in the diagnosis of DED, available and emerging therapies, both devices and pharmacologic agents, and provide expert advice on selecting treatment and counseling patients diagnosed with DED.

Acknowledgement of Commercial Support

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Oyster Point Pharma.

Target Audience

This online educational activity is directed toward ophthalmologists and optometrists who care for patients affected by DED. Other health care providers involved in the care of patients with DED are also invited to participate.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this activity, you should be better prepared to:

• Assess the role of tear film stability within dry eye disease pathophysiology, diagnosis, and as a target for treatment options
• Evaluate mechanisms, efficacy, and safety data for emerging mechanical and pharmacological treatments which target tear film homeostasis
• Recognize the impact of increased digital device use to the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of DED
• Assess the impact COVID-19 may have on visitations to the clinic by reluctant patients and appropriate permissions for pharmaceutical representative appointments

Faculty, Staff, and Planners’ Disclosures

The staff of Physicians’ Education Resource^®, LLC have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities.

Faculty

Cynthia Matossian, MD, FACS
Medical Director, Matossian Eye Associates
Adjunct Clinical Instructor
Department of Ophthalmology
Temple University School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA

Disclosures: Consultant: Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Alcon, Allergan, Aramis Biosciences, Bausch + Lomb, Bruder Healthcare, CheckedUp, Conclusn, Dompé, EyePoint, Eyevance, Glint Pharmaceuticals, Guardion Health Services, Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Kala Pharmaceuticals, LacriScience, Legrande Health, Lenstec, Lumenis, Marco, MDbackline, Novartis, NuSight Medical, Ocular Science, Olympic Ophthalmics, Omeros, Osmotica Pharmaceuticals, Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals, Quidel, Regener-Eyes, StepWise Medical, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, TearLab, TearScience (J&J), TissueTech, Visionology, Visus Therapeutics, Zeiss; Speaker’s Bureau: Alcon, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, EyePoint, Eyevance, Guardion Health Services, Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Kala Pharmaceuticals, LacriScience Vision, Lumenis, Novartis, NuSight Medical, Olympic Ophthalmics, Omeros, Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, TearLab, TearScience, TissueTech, Zeiss; Research Funding: Dompé, Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis; Investor: CheckedUp, Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals, Strathspey Crown, Veterinarian Recommended Solutions.

Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX

Disclosures: Grant/Research Support: Dompé; Consultant: Kala Pharmaceuticals, Dompé, Novartis, Kowa, Senju Pharmaceutical.

PER^® mitigated all COI for faculty, staff, and planners prior to the start of this activity by using a multistep process.

Off-Label Disclosure and Disclaimer

This activity may or may not discuss investigational, unapproved, or off-label use of drugs. Learners are advised to consult prescribing information for any products discussed. The information provided in this accredited activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent clinical judgment of a healthcare professional relative to diagnostic, treatment, or management options for a specific patient’s medical condition. The opinions expressed in the content are solely those of the individual faculty members and do not reflect those of PER^® or any company that provided commercial support for this activity.