Student Researchers' Society Topics

Autoimmune diseases often have ocular involvement, even as the first manifestation of the disease. Most common changes are dry eyes, keratitis, corneal ulceration, conjunctivitis. Intraocular or periocular inflammation occurs. Different pathologies can change in tear production and composition, corneal, retinal neurons, as well as retinal small blood vessels. These structures can be examined directly with modern non-invasive tools. Neurodegeneration and neuroinflammatory processes can be identified in the cornea and retina.

In tear diagnostics, the Lacrydiag (Quantel Medical) device enables a more precise understanding of the phases of tear film and changes of the tear film.

Corneal dendritic cells and neurons can be examined with the non-invasive in vivo confocal microscope (Heidelberg).

Optical coherence tomography (Triton) is a non-invasive imaging procedure that provides a high-resolution image of the layers of the retina. Neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory processes affecting the retina can be identified by complex analysis of the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cells, and capillary vessels.

The purpose of our investigation is to identify biomarkers that can help to get a more precise understanding of the pathomechanism of the disease and to estimate progression.