Dry eye disease affects up to 50% of Asian individuals and is characterised by a loss of tear film homeostasis and neurosensory abnormalities. This research program has developed and validated a suite of techniques and instruments which focus on these two key disease processes.
Competitive advantage
- Extensive long standing clinical and laboratory-based experience in dry eye disease
- Comprehensive suite of technologies not available elsewhere in Australia
- Diverse and well-characterised database of potential study participants
- Specialty clinics facilitate targeted patient recruitment (Dry Eye, Red Eye, Contact Lenses,)
Impact
Dry eye affects over four million Australian women. It is associated with reduced productivity at work, reduced subjective quality of life, and its effects are equivalent to severe angina. Dry eye is a significant and ongoing Medicare burden.
Improved diagnostics, particularly those that target the key pathophysiological mechanisms, will enable more appropriate treatment and monitoring.
Successful outcomes
An established track record of clinical studies - Phase 1, first in human - Phase 4 trials.
Capabilities and facilities
- Measuring sensitivity
- Subjective symptomatology
- in vivo confocal microscopy
- Tear neuropeptides and tear homeostasis
- Blinking measurement in situ
- Coupling of clinical and laboratory-based techniques
Our partners
- Alcon
- Allergan
- Bausch + Lomb
- Coopervision
- Johnson and Johnson
- Novartis
- Stiltec
- Menicon
- Azura Ophthalmics
More information
Fiona Stapleton
Scientia Professor
+61 2 9385 4375
f.stapleton@unsw.edu.au
Blanka Golebiowski
Associate Professor