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World-first imaging of immune cells in the cornea has been developed by researchers at Perth-based Lions Eye Institute.
The work is being led by Associate Professor Holly Chinnery, the private vision care provider's inaugural Ian Constable Research Fellow.
Using cutting-edge imaging equipment, A/Prof Chinnery found there are multiple immune ecosystems in the eye's cornea – previously it was thought there was just one.
Her discovery that T cells, a completely different family of immune cells, also co-exist in the healthy human cornea will hopefully lead to better understanding of how to treat people living with corneal and ocular surface disease.
"Corneal immunology is a fascinating field that explores the intricate interactions between the immune system and the cornea – the transparent front surface of the eye," said A/Prof Chinnery, who started her role in April 2024.
"My research program uses preclinical models to investigate fundamental ocular immunology and explore novel therapies for corneal neuropathy and inflammation.
"Ultimately, the aim is to model conditions that affect the human ocular surface to improve and develop new treatments for patients whose sight has been lost to corneal disease, surface diseases,dry eyesand allied conjunctival pain syndromes."
Fun-IVCM gives clinicians and researchers deeper insights into the immune system and how it is altered in both ocular and systemic diseases, as well as how the climate, weather and air quality may impact on the behaviour of immune cells in the eye.
This may lead to important new discoveries related to eye inflammation, particularly in historically-underexploredeye diseases such as keratoconus.
A/Prof Chinnery and her team are now working on understanding how the immune system may be involved in the progression of this corneal disease, which is usually diagnosed in late childhood and can lead to vision loss in later adulthood.
The institute's corneal research team is planning to start clinical studies on keratoconus in early 2025.
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