Association Between Limbal Function and Tear Proteomics in Chronic Ocular Diseases: Focusing on Glaucoma

Launched by NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · Aug 6, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how glaucoma and the medicines used to treat it might affect important cells at the edge of the cornea (the clear front part of the eye) called limbal stem cells. These cells help keep the surface of the eye healthy and protected. People with glaucoma often need to use eye drops or other treatments for a long time, but these medications can sometimes cause irritation or damage to the eye surface. The study aims to understand how these treatments impact the thickness of the cornea and limbal area, and how proteins found in tears relate to the health of these cells. This information could help doctors detect early changes in the eye and improve future treatments.

People who are 18 years or older and either have glaucoma, a type of high eye pressure, or no eye problems at all may be able to join. The study includes people newly diagnosed with glaucoma, those who have been using glaucoma medications for over a year, and people who have glaucoma in just one eye. Participants will have their eyes examined to measure the thickness of the cornea and limbal area and will provide tear samples for analysis. This study is currently recruiting participants and aims to better understand how glaucoma treatments affect eye health to help protect vision in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • i. Age ≥ 18 years. ii. Healthy Control Group: No diagnosis of glaucoma or ocular hypertension. iii. Glaucoma, Newly Diagnosed Group: Diagnosed with angle-closure glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, or ocular hypertension; antiglaucoma medication usage for less than 3 months.
• • iv. Glaucoma, Long-term Medication Group: Diagnosed with angle-closure glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, or ocular hypertension; continuous use of intraocular pressure-lowering medications for more than 1 year.
• • v. Glaucoma, Unilateral Group: Diagnosed with unilateral glaucoma or ocular hypertension; only one eye receiving intraocular pressure-lowering treatment.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • i. History of severe ocular trauma, chemical burns, corneal ulcers, Stevens-Johnson syndrome with ocular involvement, or ocular graft-versus-host disease.
• • ii. History of corneal surgery, conjunctival surgery, trabeculectomy, or glaucoma drainage device implantation.
• • iii. Presence of ocular surface irregularity or limbal dysfunction due to conditions other than glaucoma or dry eye disease.