We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
INTEGRA BIOSCIENCES AG

Download Mobile App




New Lens Method Analyzes Tears for Early Disease Detection

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 20 Dec 2024

Bodily fluids, including tears and saliva, carry proteins that are released from different parts of the body. More...

The presence of specific proteins in these biofluids can be a sign of health issues. Tears, in particular, are well-suited for detecting eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, but they can also help identify systemic conditions like breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The challenge, however, is that collecting tears is difficult. Existing tear sampling methods can be uncomfortable, irritating to the eye, and typically yield reflex tears, which are less useful for disease detection. Now, researchers have developed an innovative technique using soft contact lenses to collect proteins from basal tears, offering a more efficient method for early disease detection.

While reflex tears are easily triggered by irritation, they are unlikely to contain the proteins needed for disease detection. These tears would dilute the indicator proteins that could point to a health issue. To avoid this, researchers at Brigham Young University (Provo, UT, USA) proposed a gentler approach: using soft contact lenses that naturally absorb proteins from the eye. Their tests showed that lenses made from the hydrogel material Etafilcon-A collected the highest protein levels without causing irritation.

In experiments, volunteers wore the contact lenses for just five minutes, and the lenses absorbed nearly the same range of proteins as traditional methods, but with significantly less discomfort. This new approach, as described in the study published in Clinical Proteomics, also allows patients to collect their own tears, removing the need for a trained optometrist. The research team is currently conducting further clinical trials to link specific tear proteins with diseases like macular degeneration and cancer. Their long-term goal is to make this method available in optometrists' and oncologists' offices, providing an easy and non-invasive way to detect early signs of various conditions.

“How many people could be helped if doctors could catch diseases before symptoms develop? With this new lens method, we could potentially screen for a range of health issues from analyzing tears,” said former grad student Robert Roden. “This project is very powerful in its scope. Any disease that your blood touches has the potential to show up in your tears. Hopefully this sampling can turn into a routine screening.”


Gold Member
Pharmacogenetics Panel
VeriDose Core Panel v2.0
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
PSA Test
Humasis PSA Card
New
Chagas Disease Test
LIAISON Chagas
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The GlycoLocate platform uses multi-omics and advanced computational biology algorithms to diagnose early-stage cancers (Photo courtesy of AOA Dx)

AI-Powered Blood Test Accurately Detects Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, largely due to late-stage diagnoses. Although over 90% of women exhibit symptoms in Stage I, only 20% are diagnosed in... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The cancer stem cell test can accurately choose more effective treatments (Photo courtesy of University of Cincinnati)

Stem Cell Test Predicts Treatment Outcome for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer frequently responds to chemotherapy initially, but eventually, the tumor develops resistance to the therapy, leading to regrowth. This resistance is partially due to the activation... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: AI-analyzed images from the FDM microscope show platelet clumps in motion (Photo courtesy of Hirose et al CC-BY-ND)

AI Microscope Spots Deadly Blood Clots Before They Strike

Platelets are small blood cells that act as emergency responders in the body, rushing to areas of injury to help stop bleeding by forming clots. However, sometimes platelets can overreact, leading to complications.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.