Talking Eyes episode five is out now.
Titled The dry eye playbook, in this episode host Lien Trinh is joined by Professor Laura Downie, Associate Professor Holly Chinnery and Megan Zabell who provide a practical, evidence-informed guide to diagnosing and managing dry eye disease in real-world practice.
Beyond day-to-day management, this discussion highlights how recent research advances are reshaping our understanding of ocular surface disease. Together, the panel moves beyond dry eye as a single-condition problem to explore the dynamic, multifactorial spectrum where inflammation, neurosensory changes, eyelid and meibomian gland health, tear film instability, and environmental exposures interact.
Prof Downie and Assoc Prof Chinnery also introduce acoustically-driven microfluidic extensional rheometry (ADMiER ), an emerging concept in development for point-of-care testing, with the aim of making ocular surface assessment more targeted, measurable and quickly actionable chairside. Alongside a clear clinical framework for history, testing, differentiation of evaporative vs aqueous-deficient disease, and stepwise therapy, the conversation offers practical pearls on improving adherence, setting expectations, and knowing when to escalate or co-manage.
About the Guests
Professor Laura Downie is an academic optometrist, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grant (Leadership 1) holder, and Dame Kate Campbell Fellow for research excellence in the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the University of Melbourne. She heads the Downie Laboratory: Anterior Eye, Clinical Trials and Research Translation Unit and is also Director of a Cochrane Eyes and Vision Centre for Evidence-Based Vision Care, one of nine such centres recognised for excellence in leading the translation of high-quality research evidence into eye care practice. She is internationally regarded as a leading clinician scientist for her translational research in tear biomarkers, ocular immunology, ophthalmic imaging and ocular disease. In her academic role, Prof Downie delivers both didactic and clinical education for eye care clinicians, and also leads a specialty corneal confocal imaging clinic at the Melbourne Eyecare Clinic. Alongside her collaborator, Assoc Prof Chinnery, Prof Downie co-directs the FrontTear Research Centre, which brings together preclinical and clinical research to investigate immunological signatures in both mouse and human eyes.
Associate Professor Holly Chinnery is the inaugural Ian Constable Research Fellow at the Lions Eye Institute and the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at University of Western Australia. Her research explores how the cornea’s immune and nerve systems interact in health and disease, including inflammation and injury. Her work uses preclinical models to better understand ocular surface immunology and to investigate potential therapies for corneal neuropathy and inflammation. Together with collaborator Prof Downie, she co-leads the FrontTear Research Centre, which uses advanced confocal imaging to visualise and track immune activity in the mouse and human eye.
Megan Zabell is an eye care industry professional and dry eye educator who works closely with optometrists, pharmacists and general practitioners to translate dry eye evidence into practical, day-to-day care. With a strong focus on patient-centred communication, she is known for making complex tear film science easier to understand, particularly when it comes to risk factors, subtyping, and treatment selection.
the panel moves beyond dry eye as a single-condition problem to explore the dynamic, multifactorial spectrum where inflammation, neurosensory changes, eyelid and meibomian gland health, tear film instability, and environmental exposures interact
Further Resources:
For eye care practitioners
- UNSW Short Course Dry Eye Disease Diagnosis and Management.
- The Australian College of Optometry Dry Eye Short Course.
- Alcon Experience Academy (AEA): an online training platform designed to support the continuing education and development needs of health care professionals. Courses include JENVIS scale grading training tool, TFOS DEWS III summary and water surface lenses. Via AEA, optometrists can easily access industry-leading educational resources, including e-learning modules, videos, peer-reviewed paper summaries and chairside reference guides. Upon completion of e-learning modules, Optometrists will be able to download certificates to self-record the completion of these learning assets as continuing professional development.
- TFOS Dews III Management and Therapy.
For Patients And Families
- Talking Eyes – Help! For dry eyes– Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. An episode crafted for sufferers of Dry Eye disease, where Lien Trinh is joined by Prof Laura Downie, Assoc Prof Holly Chinnery and Dr CeeCee Britten-Jones.
- Dry Eye Association.
