RCOphth and Fight for Sight Ophthalmology Trainee Research Network Award Winner 2017

16 July 2017

Prescription patterns and the effectiveness of artificial tears in dry eye disease in the real world

Victoria Nowak, Jelle Vehof, Daren Hanumunthadu

The DRy eye Outcome and Prescription Study (DROPS) is a large observational multicentre study exploring the ‘real world’ effectiveness of artificial tears in dry eye disease. Our aim is to include at least 1000 symptomatic patients who are prescribed artificial tears. All trainees and fellows in London are invited to become collaborators: we ask collaborators to consent patients, assess signs at baseline, and give patients questionnaires at baseline and 4 weeks (for home completion). In tandem, Cristina Soare, a registrar from south London, is leading a qualitative review of ophthalmologists’ prescribing behaviours for dry eye disease. For more information: https://ophthalmologytrials.net or drops@kcl.ac.uk.

Jelle Vehof is an Ophthalmology Specialist Trainee in South London, working as an Academic Clinical Lecturer at King’s College London. His research aims to unravel the epidemiology and genetics of dry eye disease, with a special focus on the relationship between dry eye and chronic pain.

Victoria Nowak is an Ophthalmology Specialist Trainee in North London; she founded the London OCTN (Ophthalmology trainee Clinical Trials Network) in 2015 to promote collaboration among trainees to design larger, prospective studies that have the potential to change practice.

Daren Hanumunthadu is an Ophthalmology Specialist Trainee in North London and co-led with Victoria the London OCTN’s first study on anti-VEGF periprocedural practice which has recently been accepted for publication.