Ocular Surface Microbiome
Conditions
Keywords
Ocular surface microbiome, Temporal stability, Confounding factors
Brief summary
To elucidate confounding factors in ocular surface microbiome research and to confirm the presence of a core ocular surface microbiome and its temporal stability.
Detailed description
The investigator will take a conjunctival sample of both eyes of a group of volunteers together with an extensive questionnaire. Furthermore, 50 volunteers will be sampled repeatedly during one year or two years.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTConjunctival swab
A conjunctival swab of both eyes will be taken at the same time together with an extensive questionnaire.
Sponsors
Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
A conjunctival swab will be taken from healthy volunteers
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* The subject is fluent in written and verbal Dutch * The subject is capable of giving informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Use of glaucoma drops * Use of antibiotic drops \< 1 month before sampling
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Richness and evenness of distribution of the microbial flora measured as operational taxonomic units on a single moment | 20 minutes for samples and filling the questionnaires | A conjunctival swab and extensive questionnaire will be taken to search for a core ocular surface microbiome and confounding factors |
| Change in richness and evenness of distribution of the microbial flora, measured as operational taxonomic units, over time | 20 minutes for the first sample and questionnaire, 5 minutes for all other visits | A conjunctival swab will be taken on different points in time to investigate the temporal stability of the conjunctival microbial flora |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed