Credentials

Undergraduate:

B.A. - Communications - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL

Optometry School:

O.D. - Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL

Residency:

Primary Care/Ocular Disease, Portland VAMC, Portland, OR

Research Focus: Ophthalmic Research, Cornea 

Summary of Research Interests

My current area of research is focused on the relationship of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with corneal biomechanics, specifically corneal hysteresis. We are evaluating this relationship and studying changes in tear film biomarkers (particularly matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels) and corneal hysteresis in both the setting of OSA prior to treatment compared to individuals without OSA. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the potential role of tear MMP-9 exposure in the development of corneal biomechanical changes with and without OSA. Our study is based on the hypothesis that intermittent hypoxia experienced in OSA can lead to elevated tear MMP-9 levels and this can may be related to potential changes in corneal hysteresis. It has previously been shown that plasma MMP-9 levels are elevated in OSA, and we are exploring if the same changes occur to tear MMP-9 levels.