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New test measures ocular inflammation
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LAS VEGAS – An in-office test designed to measure matrix metalloproteinases in the eye is available in Europe and is in clinical trials in the U.S., according to a presenter here at Vision Expo West.
The InflammaDry, by Rapid Pathogen Screening (makers of the Adenovirus Detector), measures the level of MMP-9s (matrix metalloproteinases), according to Douglas K. Devries, OD, of Eye Care Associates of Nevada.
“MMPs are proteolytic enzymes produced by stressed epithelial cells on the ocular surface,” he said. “This test measures any type of inflammation.”
Devries said the company intends to pursue marketing of this test in the U.S. after a CLIA waiver is obtained. “Otherwise, we won’t be able to do it in our offices,” he said.
The test is conducted by obtaining a few microliters of tear, dabbing the chip on the conjunctiva five or six times, Devries said. “It will indicate that you have enough,” he said. “Close it and wait.”
If the clinician intends to perform this test as well as the TearLab, “you need to do that in different visits,” Devries said. The administration of each test could affect the other’s results.
“TearLab and InflammaDry would fall under same CLIA waiver,” he added
“These tests will be complementary in nature,” Devries said. “They give you different pieces of information.”
Regarding the tests’ results on therapy, “if you have someone with high osmolarity but not high enough inflammation, maybe you don’t need to put them on cyclosporine, but you should insert punctal plugs,” he said.
“In terms of ocular surgery complications and looking into how that can accelerate dry eye, you can do these as baseline preoperatively and measure postoperatively to see if they recovered/healed properly,” Devries said.
Disclosure: Devries has no relevant financial interests to disclose.