CPD ref: C-102498

Description: When we talk to each other about ‘Dry Eye’ Disease, are we all thinking of the same thing? It's pretty important to define what we mean. But does the DEWSII definition reflect a clinician’s or an academic’s view of the problem? Try defining it yourself, as a response to what you deal with in practice. As an IP clinician I wish to challenge the ‘Dry Eye’ paradigm. As clinicians we have so much more to offer than a recipe book approach to patient care. This presentation discusses what to ask and what to do when examining patients who complain of ocular surface discomfort. The key to success: a logical anatomical sieving process to assess the entire human being.

Target audience: Optometrist, Specialty optometrist (AS/SP/IP), Contact lens optician; 
Domains and learning outcomes
Clinical practice
s.7 Conduct appropriate assessments, examinations, treatments and referrals
- Able to use a structured ‘Medical’ and ‘Anatomical’ sieve processes to thoroughly assess all presenting signs and symptoms and manage patients presenting with ocular surface discomfort
Specialty CPD - AS/SP/IP optometrist
- Understand how IP optometrists can approach the examination and management of patients presenting with ocular surface discomfort.
Communication
s.1 Listen to patients and ensure they are at the heart of decisions made about their care
- Able to take a structured and indepth case history to ensure the clinician can understand individualised needs and create a structured management plan acceptable to the patient, including the patient as part of the decision process.
s.2 Communicate effectively with patients
- Able to communicate effectively with and educate the patient about their condition, and understand that compliance with clinical management plans or referral decisions will be most effective when the patient understands the problem.