This year’s event raised $1,100 for the first and only U.S. non-profit organization focused on the disease.
Give me a rundown on Sjogren’s.
Currently, about 4 million Americans live with Sjögren’s, which is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. The autoimmune response in Sjögren’s occurs from mononuclear infiltration of the salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to complaints of dry mouth and dry eyes.
A main symptom is dry eye disease (DED)as Sjögren’s attacks exocrine glands of mucous membranes. Sometimes, a DED diagnosis will precede other systemic symptoms of Sjögren’s by years.
As a result, optometrists may be some of the first healthcare providers to identify the possibility of the condition.
Now talk about this foundation.
Founded in 1985, the Sjögren’s Foundation is the first and only non-profit health organization in the United States that is focused on the improving support, diagnosis, and education of the disease.
With 65 active support groups across the country—and partnerships with various foreign countries— the organization raises over $2.5 million annually in support of its mission and invests $400,000 in Sjögren’s research initiatives and patient services.
When and where was it?
Eyes on Dry Eye took place virtually—across the globe—February 24-25, 2023
Eight sessions were featured in the clinical track and 10 sessions in the implementation track.
Impact?
In the words of the Sjögren's Foundation CEO and President Janet Church, “We appreciate the generosity of the eyecare community to build awareness of Sjögren's,” she said. “We are in lockstep with optometrists and ophthalmologists when it comes to providing relief from dry eye symptoms—and there’s no better event to share knowledge about [DED] than Eyes On Dry Eye.”