Exploring inflammation in dry eye disease

Participants will be asked to attend a single clinic visit of 1 to 1.5 hours. Standard dry eye workup tests will be conducted on commercially available non-invasive machines and information about the tear film and ocular surface in individual cases will be provided on request. Participants will be given the opportunity to consent and be involved in a second study, which involves collecting tears and conjunctival cell samples to further investigate inflammatory biomarkers by laboratory analysis.

Travel expenses associated with attending the single study visit will be reimbursed in MTA vouchers of $20 per study.

Participants with dry eye disease are invited to participate in this study.

The study might be a good fit for you if you:

• Are 18 years of age or older
  
• Are willing to provide written informed consent
  
• Experience symptoms of dryness or irritation, red eyes towards the end of the day, or have been diagnosed previously with dry eyes or meibomian gland dysfunction
  
• Have not applied artificial tear supplements or topical eye medications within 12 hours of the study visit
  
• Have not worn contact lenses within 48 hours of the study visit

For further information and to take part in this study, please read the attached participant information sheet and consent form and contact:

Dian Zhuang
Study Investigator
Email: dian.zhuang@auckland.ac.nz