The CCLR’s primary interest is the ocular surface and its responses to various stimuli and conditions, including contact lens wear. In addition to clinical trials and after-market testing of contact lenses and lens care systems, we have the capacity to pursue more fundamental questions about the physiology of the ocular surface, which we investigate using state-of-the art instruments and innovative precision imaging techniques. The following list outlines the current breadth of our research capacity
Dry eye
- Tear film
- Meibomian glands and meibum analysis
- Corneal and conjunctival staining
Ocular response to contact lens wear
- Cornea
- Conjunctiva
- Tear film
- Lid
Cell collection, classification and evaluation
- Cell morphology
- Viability of ocular surface cells
- Biochemical quantification of PMN
Cytotoxicity of lens care systems
- Solution-induced corneal staining
Biomaterials development and evaluation
- Biocompatibility of implant materials
- Characterization of lenses (power, thickness, water content)
- Quantification and characterization of contact lens deposits
- Efficacy of UV ocular protection
- Materials designed for drug delivery (development and after-market testing)
- Nanoparticles and molecular imprinting
Comfort (sensory and symptoms)
- Corneal and conjunctival sensitivity
- Development of subjective scales and questionnaires
Understanding, assessing and grading corneal and conjunctival staining
- Solution-induced corneal staining
- Upper lid margin
- Contact lens edge
- Superficial punctate staining related to dry eye
Ocular development
- Animal models
Properties of lens materials, care systems and packaging solutions
- Contact lens dehydration
- Wettability of contact lens materials
- Lens surface deposition, osmolality, pH, surface tension and viscosity
- Efficacy of protein and lipid removal from contact lenses
Patient input
- Quality of life
- Large-scale, multi-site surveys (patient- and practitioner-focused)
- Focus groups and one-on-one interviews
Microbiology
- Antimicrobial efficacy of multipurpose lens care systems
Refractive error and optical performance
- Contrast sensitivity
- Aberrometry
- Glare/halo measurement
