Science and Research
Ocular fibrosis research
Fibrosis, or scarring, can affect every part of the eye and is a common cause of blinding eye diseases. Our research aims to understand and stop harmful scarring in the eye to prevent vision loss and improve long-term outcomes of eye diseases and surgeries.
Overview
Fibrosis is the formation of excess scar tissue. In the eye, this is especially harmful because even small amounts of scarring can interfere with vision, eye pressure or eye movement.
It can affect different parts of the eye, including:- Cornea (clear front window of the eye) – causing haze or opacity and impairing vision
- Retina (light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye) – eventually leading to detachment and vision loss
- Conjunctiva (thin membrane covering the front of eye and inside of eyelid) – interfering with surgery outcomes
- Trabecular meshwork (spongy tissue where the iris meets the cornea) - raising eye pressure and eventually leading to glaucoma
- Tear duct – leading to a watery eye.
Why does ocular fibrosis happen?
It usually develops after:- Eye surgery, such as glaucoma or retinal surgery
- Inflammation or infection
- Trauma
- Chronic diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and uveitis.
Our researchers are studying the cellular behaviour and molecular mechanisms behind the different types of scarring with the goal of developing new ways of treating or preventing scarring in the eye. This includes new anti-fibrotic drugs, innovative delivery systems of existing drugs – such as drug-eluting implants or nanoparticles – and gene therapy to target the genes that cause scarring.
These treatments aim to more specifically target the scarring tissue and be less toxic to the surrounding healthy tissue to reduce any potential complications.
Why this research is important
Ocular fibrosis is a major cause of irreversible vision loss and a leading reason that eye surgeries fail over time.
Current treatments for ocular fibrosis are limited and often non-specific. Having a deeper understanding of ocular fibrosis opens the door to vision-preserving therapies.
Key research questions
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- How does ocular fibrosis occur?
- Why does fibrosis differ across eye compartments?
- Who is at risk and why?
- How does inflammation drive fibrosis?