BLOG: BCLA MEDAL LECTURE 2017: Tear Kinetics in contact lens induced dry eye
Professor Michel Guillon
The impact of contact lenses cases of dry eye will form the basis of this year’s Medal lecture at the BCLA’s 40th anniversary Clinical Conference.
BCLA Medal recipient Professor Michel Guillon will present the address - entitled ‘
Tear Kinetics in contact lens induced dry eye’ - on the first day of the three-day conference in Liverpool this June.
The BCLA Medal is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of contact lenses and/or anterior eye. Previous Medal winners have won the award for their significant contribution to the development, understanding, appreciation or use of contact lenses, through invention, research or clinical practice.
Professor Guillon’s presentation will describe the importance of quantifying the tear kinetics over the full interblink period, and not limiting the tear film assessment to measuring tear break up time, to characterise Contact Lens Induced Dry Eye (CLIDE).
Professor Guillon, visiting professor in The School of Life and Health Sciences at Aston University, will review the relative benefits and limitations of the clinical instrumentation currently available to assess tear kinetics.
The lecture will compare the tear kinetics of contact lens induced dry eye and dry eye in non-contact lens wearers and review the contact lens related factors affecting tear kinetics and their association with CLIDE.
Professor Guillon said: “A contact lens in situ produces biophysical changes that affect both the tear film, dividing it into pre-and post-lens components, and the blinking mechanism, insulating the corneal cold receptors associated with spontaneous blinking from sensing changes due to tear film thinning.
“These modifications from the normal ocular environment alter the tear kinetics leading to contact lens induced dry eye (CLIDE).
“Contact lens induced dry eye is a unique clinical condition that is induced by the presence of the contact lens, and that often occurs in wearers with otherwise normal tear films.”
The conference will see the BCLA mark its 40th anniversary by looking to the future of contact lenses as well as celebrating the industry’s proud past.
Hundreds of eye care professionals are expected to attend the glittering event, which will include world-renowned guest speakers, hands-on workshops and a spectacular 40th Anniversary dinner.
The conference, due to be held at the ACC in Liverpool on June 9th-11th, is one of the biggest of its kind within the contact lens industry and offers delegates the chance to keep up to date with the latest research, trends and best practice.
Find out more about the Clinical Conference and exhibition and to see the full programme of lectures and workshops here.