Arthur B. Epstein, OD, FAAO

Every optometrist addresses ocular surface disease in some capacity and, driven by a growing body of compelling science, many have expanded the range of diagnostic and treatment options they offer as new technologies have emerged.

Optometry is undergoing a tectonic shift, with online contact lens and eyeglass sales, telemedicine and equity capital group acquisitions all pointing to significant changes ahead. To prepare, we must identify unmet needs and expand our practices to meet them.

Dry eye syndrome, also known as ocular surface disease (OSD), affects as many as 60 million Americans. Many patients with dry eye syndrome remain undiagnosed and untreated, and many others treat their condition with less-than-optimal over-the-counter drops. In a busy eye care practice it can be difficult to accurately diagnose this disease.