ST. LOUIS—The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC) have announced that the “WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel,” a tool that aids in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease, is now available in Spanish. Developed by educators Jennifer Craig, Lyndon Jones and James Wolffsohn, the wheel is an at-a-glance, interactive tool designed to easily reference the three pillars of mitigation, measurement and management. It is accessible to the Spanish-speaking optometry community at no cost.

WCO and Alcon initially partnered to develop the dry eye disease education initiative to raise optometrists’ understanding of dry eye and deliver resources on practical management. Dry eye disease can be a chronic, painful condition, and about 1.4 billion people worldwide are affected by symptoms, with reports of increased occurrence aligning with notable factors such as increasing use of technology, environmental triggers and an aging population.

The education initiative brings together experts to share the latest dry eye disease data and science with clinical and academic colleagues, according to WCO and Alcon. With 41 percent of people in Mexico and 13 percent of people who live in Brazil suffering from dry eye, the organizations note that continued education and resources directed specifically toward Latin American countries are much needed.



“It was imperative that the wheel be available in Spanish, since it’s one of the most widely spoken languages in the world,” said Dr. Sandra S. Block, OD, MEd, MPH, FAAO, FCOVD, president of the World Council of Optometry. “This latest development affirms WCO’s continued commitment to education around the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease. We are grateful to Alcon for their continued partnership in the fight against this global epidemic.”

The wheel’s Spanish translation was provided in collaboration with Colegio Federación Colombiana de Optómetras – Fedopto, according to the announcement. To use the Dry Eye Wheel in Spanish and discover other dry eye disease resources on the WCO website, visit https://dryeye.worldcouncilofoptometry.info/interactive-dry-eye-wheel/.