This publication is one of several that has been keen to promote the development of dry eye management over recent years. Indeed, the ability for us to assess accurately a condition that is both widespread and a major cause of discomfort in many people’s lives, and to offer a tailored and ongoing solution is a great step forward.
That said, I have recently noticed a possible down side to the increased interest. Firstly, I have reviewed a number of qualifying optometrist records lately where asymptomatic patients appear to have been offered a range of therapies (typically lid wipes, comfort drops and possibly an eye bag) when the presenting signs and lack of symptoms do not seem to justify this.
And then, secondly, I noticed this week an interesting pattern developing while taking part in some qualification assessments. Candidates were interrogating an actor playing the role of a young person who, having recently changed to a job with a greater near work requirement, was noticing some asthenopic symptoms. What surprised me was that almost half of the candidates were suggesting dry eye management, even though there was absolutely no clinical indication for this on the record card nor implied during history and symptoms. The danger is, it seems to me, that some practitioners are offering dry eye management almost as a universal service. Have any of you noticed this questionable trend to intervene? I hope not, as the likely result will be a less than warm embrace of one area of our expanding services in the future.
And finally, a nice paper in Current Opinions in Ophthalmology has reviewed the evidence for sleep position influencing glaucoma progression. Though the results are inconclusive, I have learned that a significant majority of adults sleep on their right side. I never knew that.
