Modulation of the anterior eye inflammatory response to treat dry eye disease

Project Details

Dry eye is a common, chronic disease that results in inflammation at the surface of the eye. Affecting 20% of adults, dry eye disease (DED) promotes debilitating symptoms of ocular discomfort and impairs quality of life.

Primary therapy for DED is instillation of artificial tear drops that provide palliative rather than therapeutic management. New treatments are essential to reduce the individual and community burden of this condition. Preliminary investigations indicate that systemic intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) can modify the expression of systemic inflammation.

The aim of this 'proof-of-concept' clinical trial is to quantify changes in tear immunology and patient signs/symptoms to establish the merit of a unique long-chain omega-3 EFA supplement in modifying the expression of DED, and to investigate whether this form of Ω-3 provides any benefit over a triglyceride form of omega-3 EFA.

Funding

  • University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher Grant
  • Rebecca M Cooper Medical Foundation Grant
  • Kaye Merlin Brutton Bequest

Research Group

Anterior Eye, Clinical Trials and Research Translation Unit



Faculty Research Themes

Infection and Immunology

School Research Themes

Immunology and Inflammation



Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.

Department / Centre

Optometry and Vision Sciences

MDHS Research library
Explore by researcher, school, project or topic.