The TFOS DEWS II report has been published in The Ocular Surface and will be available week commencing 31 July to all for free** at www.TearFilm.org.
The report took almost two and a half years and involved 150 clinical and basic research experts from around the world, who used an evidence-based approach and a process of open communication, dialogue and transparency to achieve a global consensus concerning multiple aspects of dry eye disease. Led by Dr. Dan Nelson and Associate Professor Jennifer Craig, as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, the TFOS DEWS II report is the sequel to the original TFOS DEWS publication of 2007.
The TFOS DEWS II report redefines dry eye as… “a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterised by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and accompanied by ocular symptoms, in which tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular surface inflammation and damage, and neurosensory abnormalities play etiological roles. This report also updates the classification and diagnosis of dry eye, critically evaluates the epidemiology, etiology, mechanism, and impact of this disorder, addresses its management and therapy, and proposes recommendations for the design of clinical trials to assess new pharmaceutical interventions for dry eye treatment”.
According to the Tear Film Organisation, the DEWS II initiative is very important, because dry eye disease is a global problem, and one of the most frequent causes of patient visits to eye care practitioners.
Translations of the TFOS DEWS II report will be offered in numerous languages, including but not limited to French, Italian, German, Spanish (sponsored by Allergan), Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Vietnamese (sponsored by Novartis), Romanian, and Turkish (sponsored by SIFI).
**Please note: Inadvertently, Elsevier has posted most of the report on The Ocular Surface website as restricted access. This will be corrected and made FREE and Open Access, week commencing 31 July 2017. If you paid for access, send your receipt to TFOS and a refund can be sought.
To access the report click here.
