Members of the BCLA were treated to a whistlestop tour of the past, present and future of dry eye disease as part of this year’s Presidential Address delivered by Sarah Farrant.
Dozens of eye care professionals, including several past presidents of the BCLA, were in attendance for the lecture at the Royal College of General Practitioners in London last month (18 September).
Having been formally introduced as the new BCLA president earlier this year, Sarah used the session to delve into the historical angles and origins of dry eye and ocular surface disease, including reviewing diagnosis and management through the ages, highlighting practices dating back to ancient Egypt.
Entitled ‘Standing on the shoulders of giants; the evolution of dry eye disease’ – the fascinating lecture explored the legacy research and development in this field and highlighted how these improvements in understanding were translated and converted into viable clinical techniques.
Sarah then reviewed the ongoing barriers to setting up dry eye clinics and how the research and technology has evolved to give us the multiple options currently available in practice, while also considering 21stcentury diagnostic and management technology and potential future advancements.
She said: “Being able to deliver a Presidential Address just a few months after taking on the role of leading the BCLA is a huge honour. It was a privilege to meet fellow eye care professionals, catch up with colleagues and welcome some of our new members. Learning from each other is a vital part of how we can continue to evolve and improve.”
The evening started with a welcome drinks reception and was followed by a networking session for all those in attendance.
As part of the event, Sarah presented Prof Shehzad Naroo with a certificate to recognise and celebrate the increased impact factor of the BCLA’s journal Contact Lens and Anterior Eye (CLAE) which now stands at 4.1.
