Lifestyle choices we make often define the person we are and reflect the life we’ve chosen to live, but how often do we stop to think of the impact these choices might be having on the eyes’ surface? Diseases of the ocular surface, including dry eye disease, are becoming increasingly prevalent, adversely impacting quality of life for those affected. The recently completed TFOS Lifestyle Workshop, A Lifestyle Epidemic: Ocular Surface Disease, reviews the latest scientific evidence to help us learn more about a wide range of lifestyle choices and challenges that have the potential to affect the eyes. Across eight reports, over 150 experts from 38 countries have taken a deep dive into risk factors implicated in the development and propagation of ocular surface disease, exploring the impact of contact lenses, cosmetics, nutrition, the digital environment, elective medications and procedures, as well as environmental challenges, lifestyle challenges and societal challenges. This presentation will provide a summary of some of the key outcomes from this global consensus report, offer evidence-based recommendations for promoting optimal ocular surface health, and recognise the limits of current knowledge that are expected to drive research into the future, in our quest to offer the best eye care we can for our patients.

Learning objectives: