The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon have launched an online resource in support of their global, evidence-based dry eye disease education initiative. The website, dryeye.worldcouncilofoptometry.info, features on-demand webinars presented by world-renowned faculty, in-practice tools including clinical studies and white papers, and other professional development resources.

World Council of Optometry President-elect Dr. Sandra Block said, “Our new website presents the latest dry eye disease data and science to the entire optometric community through trusted information and tools. Of value no matter the size of your practice or the length of your experience, these resources offer practical measures to help improve patients’ quality of life.”

The first on-demand Dry Eye Spotlight webinar, “Dry Eye Disease Mitigation,” is now available on the website, following its debut yesterday. Presented by Professors Jennifer Craig, Lyndon Jones, and James Wolffsohn, the lively discussion focuses on understanding the prevalence and etiology of dry eye, associated risk factors, and how to triage patients presenting with symptoms.

Registration for future live chat-enabled Dry Eye Spotlight webinars will open in the weeks before the debut of each. These include “Dry Eye Disease Measurement” on January 17, 2023, “Dry Eye Disease Management” on March 8, 2023, and the “Dry Eye Disease Wheel Tool” on May 16, 2023. On-demand versions then become active the following day.

In-practice tools available on the website include articles, reports, and clinical studies that explore the three main pillars of dry eye disease mitigation, measurement, and management. This collection of practical tools will be updated regularly.

A featured blog from the initiative’s faculty members and guest bloggers will present their latest observations to participants.

Click HERE for the full press release.

EssilorLuxottica acknowledges that the French competition authority (FCA) has published a decision concerning Essilor International.

Related to an investigation opened in 2014, a Euro 81 million penalty is imposed on Essilor International (out of which Euro 15 million is to be borne jointly by its parent company EssilorLuxottica) for discrimination of online players and protection of brick & mortar retailers, in connection with the distribution of certain specific prescription lenses.

EssilorLuxottica firmly believes in its practices legality and in the relevancy of distributing specific segments of prescription products under conditions that enable us to ensure that consumers can get the best vision correction that is required by their individual vision needs.

The Company also restates that its practices were fully compliant with the competitive and regulatory contexts of the concerned period, and that they benefitted not only its customers and partners but also the whole industry.

EssilorLuxottica strongly disagrees with the FCA’s decision and will appeal it. The Company is confident that it will successfully demonstrate that the decision is ungrounded.

Click HERE for the full press release.