Contact lens discomfort and TFOS

One of the less well publicised outcomes of lockdown and the move to working from home at the computer has been a reported increase in ocular discomfort. Expect a rush of studies verifying this in the months ahead. In many ways, the last few months has represented a microcosm of what was already a developing pattern in recent years, and the challenges of modern living with variable hours, artificial environment control, digital screen use and many other factors all requiring a greater focus from eye care professionals upon the ocular surface and symptoms related to it.

We also know that discomfort is a major reason for the discontinuation of contact lens wear. So, as more of us turn to contact lens correction and make use of the expanded range of lenses available and are able to successfully correct most errors, including presbyopia, a better understanding of the interaction between contact lens and ocular surface would seem an important area to look at if we are to address the problems likely to present to us in practice. To this end, Optician has teamed up with Alcon to produce a number of articles and CET exercises over the coming months which I hope will offer some guidance and new perspective on this topic.