Understanding Age-Related Dry Eye
Age-Related Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
This project explores new ways to help people with dry eyes caused by problems with their eyelid glands as they get older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093477 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people experience dry eyes, especially as they age, often due to an issue called meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). These tiny glands in your eyelids produce an oily substance that keeps your tears from evaporating too quickly. When these glands don't work properly, it leads to uncomfortable dry eye symptoms. Currently, treatments mostly offer temporary relief, so this work aims to uncover the basic cellular and molecular reasons why MGD happens. By understanding these root causes, we hope to discover entirely new and more effective ways to treat this common condition.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant to older adults experiencing evaporative dry eye disease caused by meibomian gland dysfunction.
Not a fit: Patients whose dry eye is not related to meibomian gland dysfunction or aging may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective treatments for age-related dry eye disease, moving beyond current palliative care.
How similar studies have performed: Current treatments for meibomian gland dysfunction are primarily palliative, indicating a need for novel approaches like those explored here.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jester, James V — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Jester, James V
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 below.