National Eye Institute 5R01EY034990-05

Correlating the microstructural thickness variations of the tear film lipid layer with clinical characteristics of dry eye with a novel optical method

This NIH-funded project by the University of South Florida studies the microstructural thickness variations of the tear film lipid layer to understand their link to dry eye disease clinical features, using advanced optical interferometry to improve diagnosis and treatment.

Description

The project aims to characterize the microstructural thickness variations of the tear film lipid layer (TFLL) and their association with clinical characteristics of dry eye disease (DED). Using a novel laser source point-scanning interferometer, the study will assess the in vivo dynamics of the precorneal tear film (PCTF) and TFLL with high resolution and sensitivity. The central hypothesis is that variations in TFLL microstructure are linked to DED clinical features. The research goals include verifying the inverse relationship between TFLL thickness and PCTF evaporation rate and quantifying how TFLL thickness variations impact PCTF stability. The research will introduce new parameters to characterize the lipid layer microstructure and correlate them with tear film evaporation and instability, aiming to enable non-invasive assessment of DED and inform therapeutic development.

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