The purpose of this study is to measure tear lacritin and heparanase levels before and following surgery using a minimal risk procedure to collect tears from patients undergoing PRK or LASIK.
Lacritin is a naturally occurring tear protein with antimicrobial activity that is capable of stimulating mitogenesis in human corneal epithelial cells and promoting production of tears in lacrimal gland acinar cells. A recently developed immunoassay for lacritin may help characterize the lacritin response following refractive surgery with the possible development of recombinant lacritin as a novel therapeutic agent for wound healing. Heparanase (HPSE) acts as a regulator for lacritin by cleaving heparan sulfate chains and allowing lacritin to bind. We aim to measure both tear lacritin and HPSE pre- and post-operatively to elucidate lacritin and HPSE's response in patients undergoing PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) at the Walter Reed Center for Refractive Surgery.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
196
Tear collection
Fort Belvoir Community Hospital
Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States
The primary outcome measure is tear lacritin levels pre- and post-surgery.
Time frame: pre and standard visits up to 6 months post-surgery
The secondary outcome is tear heparanase levels pre- and post-surgery
Time frame: pre- and at standard visits up to 6 months post-surgery
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