Ensuring evidence-based best practice reaches patients, both locally and globally, is at the heart of what we do as clinical educators. At the 2024 Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) conference in Venice, a chance meeting between then BCLA president Sarah Farrant, Indian ophthalmologist Associate Professor Anitha Arvind and Professor Monica Chaudhry, co-host and founder of Learn Beyond Vision (LBV), sparked a shared vision: to expand access to practical, evidence-based education for eyecare professionals (ECPs) in India. Recognising the growing burden of dry eye disease (DED), the collaboration aimed to bridge gaps in clinical training through workshops grounded in global research.
DED is a rising concern in India, driven by environmental conditions, digital screen use and lifestyle changes. Although research in this field has progressed significantly, translating it into everyday practice remains limited, particularly where continuing education is less accessible. To address this, the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) and LBV joined forces to deliver a hands-on workshop focused on DED, contact lenses and ocular surface health.
The initiative offered a comprehensive curriculum that heavily referenced the TFOS DEWS II, TFOS Lifestyle and BCLA CLEAR reports. These reports provide an up-to-date, science-backed framework for understanding and managing DED in clinical settings, as well as providing best-practice guidance for contact lens wear in patients with and without ocular surface disease.











