Web site focuses on dry eye

San Diego-TearLab Corp. has launched the allaboutdryeye.com consumer Web site and social media program to support the company’s accreditation program in North America.

The site was designed to give people who have dry eye a place to share their experiences, ask questions, learn about the science behind this condition, connect with doctors and other patients, and locate an accredited treatment center.

Accredited dry eye centers are eye-care practices dedicated to providing high-quality care for the condition using advanced ophthalmic diagnostic techniques and treatments. To become accredited, these centers and their appropriate staff members must complete activities required by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, follow best practices for dry eye diagnosis and patient management, participate in Web seminars offered by the company, and complete technician certification training.

“Despite a large and growing patient population, dry eye disease has not historically been a major area of eye-care practice,” said Elias Vamvakas, TearLab’s chief executive officer. “There were a variety of reasons for that, including the limited understanding of the disease; the lack of a simple-to-use, objective, and accurate diagnostic tool; and a limited number of treatment options. As a result, [patients with] dry eye disease were largely left to suffer through the disease on their own.”

With the number of treatment options and potential treatment options increasing, however, “it is the right time to build an online community like allaboutdryeye.com to spread the word on the importance of properly diagnosing and treating dry eye disease,” he added.