Exploring how social factors affect access to eye care for dry eye disease
Official title: Understanding barriers to accessing eye care and their impacts on the prognosis of dry eye disease
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10950592 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how factors like race, ethnicity, and language affect people's access to eye care and their experiences with dry eye disease, aiming to find ways to improve treatment and support for patients over the next two years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $383,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY036433-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10950592 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with dry eye disease who may face barriers to accessing eye care due to social factors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have dry eye disease or those who have already received adequate care and management may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social determinants of health, such as race, ethnicity, and language, influence access to eye care and the outcomes for patients with dry eye disease. By analyzing electronic health records from multiple centers, the study aims to identify barriers that prevent patients from receiving timely and effective treatment. The goal is to develop personalized risk assessments that can help predict the progression of dry eye disease over a two-year period, ultimately improving patient care and management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to eye care and better management strategies for patients suffering from dry eye disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing social determinants of health can significantly improve health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Suhsun — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Liu, Suhsun
Related research
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This work looks at how certain immune cells make dry eye persist in adults and aims to point toward better, longer-lasting treatments.
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A new type of plug to help relieve dry eye symptoms
This study is working on a new type of eye plug that can help make life easier for people with dry eyes by using special materials that adjust to their needs, aiming to provide more comfort and better results than current treatments.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.