Visionaries gather for BCLA event

A debate on dry eye was among the key attractions at the BCLA Visionaries event in London last week.

Professor Teifi James hosted a multi-disciplinary debate, which followed Prof James Wolffsohn’s presentation of findings from the TFOS DEWS II report on dry eye.

Panel members then included Colin Davidson from the College of Optometrists, consultant rheumatologist Professor David D’Cruz, Elaine Mann, advance clinical pharmacist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Andrew Price from ABDO, IP optometrist Nick Rumney, Professor Sunil Shah and Professor Wolffsohn.

Dublin-based eye surgeon Ian Flitcroft was also awarded the annual Pioneers medal during the conference.

During his keynote lecture on myopia, he said: ‘The calculated risks from myopia are comparable to those between hypertension, smoking and cardiovascular disease. It’s the most prevalent medical condition on the planet and it’s rising generation by generation in the developed world. It should be the biggest news story in medicine. There are 2,150 million people with myopia, compared to 671 million who are obese, yet obesity dominates the headlines. That needs to change.’