Anna Ablamowicz Tichenor

Dr. Anna Ablamowicz Tichenor is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Dry Eye Clinic at the Indiana University School of Optometry. She holds a PhD in Vision Science and is a clinician-scientist in the Borish Center for Ophthalmic Research. Her clinical roles include overseeing the Dry Eye Clinic at Atwater Eye Care Center.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Tennessee Technological University (2009)
• Doctor of Optometry, Southern College of Optometry (2013)
• PhD in Vision Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham (2018)

Research Focus: Dr. Tichenor studies ocular surface diseases, particularly dry eye disease and neuropathic pain conditions. Her work explores inflammation, aging, hormones, and their impact on ocular mucins and the tear film glycocalyx. She conducts industry-sponsored clinical trials and translational research to address gaps in dry eye treatments and contact lens complications. Key areas include meibomian gland dysfunction, tear film imaging, and novel therapeutic approaches.

Publications & Presentations: Her research spans dry eye mechanisms, mucin expression (MUC16/MUC5AC), and clinical trials for treatments like LipiFlow. Recent work includes 2024 studies on glycocalyx mucin differences and testosterone in tear film analysis.

Awards & Affiliations:

• Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry
• Member of Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS)
• Active presenter at ARVO, AAO, and TFOS conferences

Labs & Teams: Based in the Borish Center for Ophthalmic Research, she collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving clinical trials, biomarker discovery, and translational ophthalmic research.