Dry Eye Defense: The Role of Nutraceuticals

Overview

Provider Statement

This continuing education activity is provided by 

Support Statement

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Bausch + Lomb.

Activity Description

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common yet frequently overlooked condition that significantly affects quality of life. Despite an estimated global prevalence of up to 50%, DED is often underdiagnosed and inadequately managed. To limit the burden of DED, it is crucial for clinicians to be adept at recognizing risk factors and making accurate diagnoses. In addition, as treatment options expand to include clinically proven nutraceuticals, it is imperative that clinicians stay abreast of the latest clinical data on the safety and efficacy of these supplements to determine how they fit into comprehensive management plans for reduction of DED-associated inflammation and eye discomfort. In this CE activity, clinical experts discuss risk factors and diagnostic tools as well as summarize the utility of nutraceuticals for treating patients with DED. In addition to didactic presentations and practice scenarios, this program incorporates the unique, audience-engaging, educational gaming platform, Wheel of Knowledge Challenge!, intended to reinforce concepts and promote learning through active participation.

Target Audience

The intended audience for this activity is optometrists involved in the management of patients with DED.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Review various methods for differential diagnosis of DED.
• Summarize how nutraceuticals can fit into comprehensive management plans to reduce inflammation and eye discomfort associated with DED.

Activity Chair

Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, FOWNS
Owner and Founder
Integrative Vision
President, Ocular Wellness & Nutrition Society
Shrewsbury, NJ

Faculty

Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO
Director, Cornea Services
Kentucky Eye Institute
Lexington, KY

Gina M. Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO
Owner and CEO
Complete Eye Care of Medina
Wesley Optometric Consulting
Medina, MN

Planner/Reviewer

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, Vindico Medical Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. This activity will award credit for optometry (COPE) if the requirements necessary for credit are met.

Credit Designation

Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 COPE credit hours. Optometrists should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

COPE Course Number: 95308-TD
COPE Activity Number: 129770

This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, December 20, 2024, to December 19, 2025.

How to Participate in This Activity and Obtain CE Credit

To participate in this activity, you must read the objectives, answer the polling and pretest questions, view the content, and complete the posttest and evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 70% of the posttest questions correctly. If a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue a COPE CE Certificate.

Disclosures

Vindico Medical Education adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Relationship information is accurate at the time of content development.

Activity Chair and Faculty report the following relevant financial relationship(s)

Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, FOWNS
Advisor: RetiNov
Consultant: Bausch + Lomb

Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO
Consultant: AbbVie, AdOM, Alcon, Aldeyra, Apellis, Aramis, Astellas, Atlas, Aurion, Azura, Barti, Bausch + Lomb, BioTissue, Bruder, Bruno, Dompé, Essilor, Eyedetec, Eyenovia, Harrow, Healthe, LKC, Kinan, Neurolens, Nordic Pharma, Oasis Medical, Oculus, Ocuphire, OcuMedic, OCuSOFT, Olympic Ophthalmics, Orasis, Regener-Eyes, Reichert, Rendia, RxSight, ScienceBased Health, Scope, Sight Sciences, Silk Tears, Sun, Surface, Sydnexis, Tarsus, TearClear, Thea, Topcon, Tracey Technologies, Trukera, Vial, ViaLase, Viatris, Vital Tears, WebMD, Zeiss
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: Bausch + Lomb, Dompé, Mallinckrodt, Sun, Tarsus, Viatris
Independent Research Contractor: Lumibird

Gina M. Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO
Consultant: Bausch + Lomb, Optos, Orasis
Independent Research Contractor: Alcon, Aldeyra, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, J&J Vision, Novaliq, Tarsus, Viatris

Planner/Reviewer reports the following relevant financial relationship(s)

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relevant financial relationship(s)

No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.

Unlabeled and Investigational Usage

The audience is advised that this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of FDA-approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non–FDA-approved or investigational use of products/devices.

Copyright Statement

Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2024 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any Vindico Medical Education continuing education activity does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the FDA. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.

Procedures for Reporting Copyright Infringement

If you suspect that any content in this activity violates your copyright, you can request the removal of such content or restrict access to it by contacting our designated copyright agent (as outlined below). In your email, kindly provide the following details:

• Specify the copyrighted work you believe has been infringed upon.
• Describe the work and, if possible, include the location (eg, URL) of an authorized version of the work.
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• Provide a signature or its electronic equivalent from the copyright holder or a representative authorized to act on their behalf.

Our agent for copyright issues relating to this web activity is as follows:
Vindico Medical Education, LLC
Attn: Faith Bantivoglio
6900 Grove Road, Building 300
Thorofare, NJ 08086
fbantivoglio@vindicocme.com
or call: 856-994-9400, ext. 614

CE Questions?

Contact us at cme@vindicoCME.com