New Zealand optometrist and contact lens specialist Jagrut Lallu has developed a new cloud-based dry eye tool to help advance research and support clinician’s dry eye treatment assessments and patient management.
Although the diagnosis of dry eye disease has come a long way since the publication of the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society’s second dry eye workshop (TFOS DEWS II) report in 2017, which spurred greater use of dry eye diagnostic technologies in practices, there is still no standardised regime for dry eye diagnosis and treatment that all practitioners use, said Lallu. “This tool essentially helps bridge the disconnect between what everybody is doing and what actually works. It has the potential to become a game changer.”
Tracking diagnosis and the effectiveness of the prescribed dry eye treatment, including anonymous treatment success comparisons, the new browser-based tool uses algorithms to analyse data to ultimately help practitioners focus more on treatments that are working and reduce chair time, said Lallu.
Lallu is seeking optometry participants for a wider trial of the new tool (see below) with the aim of launching it in New Zealand next year before rolling it out internationally. Once launched, there will be a usage-based fee structure for practitioners which they can on sell as part of their dry eye service, said Lallu, adding it will remain free for researchers. “My dream is that we provide the data and learnings to university researchers; they use it to produce more research which will ultimately help solve some of the management questions posed by TFOS DEWS II to help advance dry eye treatment within the wider profession.”
Call for trial participants
