The launch of the New Zealand branch of the Dry Eye Association was a well-attended public event, providing dry eye disease (DED) sufferers an opportunity to share their perspectives.

Over 80 attendees gathered at the University of Auckland on 13 April, together with speakers Professors Jennifer Craig and James Wolffsohn, Drs Kalika Bandamwar and Colin Parsloe, Catherine Jennings and Ryan Mahmoud, and Sara Cornish, a patient with DED. After a morning of talks about different aspects of the disease – including diagnosis, online resources, available treatments, the spectrum of severity and how management differs, plus patient perspectives – lunch offered everyone a chance to mix and mingle, share ideas, experiences, tips and to speak to sponsors at their stands.

Suitably refuelled, guests then watched a live demonstration of a dry eye diagnosis, followed by a group discussion focused on patients’ perspectives and what the country’s dry eye care should be aiming for. Patient feedback highlighted the lack of referral to dry eye services and how other medical professions, outside of eyecare, needed to know more about DED so a more holistic approach could be provided. They also highlighted the shortage of affordable treatment options and the need to make DED part of workplace occupational health checks and for better dissemination of DED information and resources to communities.

For more, see https://dry-eye-association.com/category/nz-resources