BHVI

The condition ‘dry eye’ affects many people, around 21 million people in the US alone - at least twice as many women as men – and its prevalence increases with age. It can cause a range of conditions leading to great discomfort in the eyes, including itching, redness, pain and blurred vision. Severe dry eye may also result in vision loss.

Dry eye occurs when we are unable to produce enough tears or tears of the correct composition to lubricate the eye. It is one of the main reasons people seek eye care. There are currently products available, such as artificial tears, which can minimise the effects of the condition.

The Institute is conducting scientific research to evaluate the impact of a series of compounds on the eye that will enhance therapeutic treatments of dry eye.

Investigators

Project Leader
Dr Qian Garrett

Prof Mark Willcox
Ms Sharon Shih

Collaborators

The Dry Eye Therapeutics project is being undertaken in partnership with Allergan Inc. with the Institute working closely with Dr Peter Simmons and Mr Joseph Vehige.

Facilities

This project uses at the Institute’s cell biology, molecular biology and biochemistry facilities.