Dr Azadeh Tavakoli is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the School of Optometry & Vision Science (SOVS), UNSW Sydney. She is a dedicated clinician-researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and research. Her primary focus is on contact lenses and anterior eye diseases, particularly dry eye disease. Dr Tavakoli is passionate about investigating innovative approaches to managing dry eye, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide.

Dry eye disease directly impacts the tear film, causing ocular discomfort, visual disturbances, inflammation, and reduced quality of life. With its high prevalence, dry eye is a significant public health issue that demands effective solutions. Dr Tavakoli’s research explores the systemic connections to dry eye, including the role of the immune system, gut microbiome, and nutritional factors such as probiotics, prebiotics, and vitamins in reducing inflammation. Her work highlights the potential of these factors to not only improve dry eye disease but also address other ocular inflammatory conditions.

To achieve these goals, Dr Tavakoli employs a comprehensive approach, investigating dry eye through clinical signs and symptoms, advanced imaging technologies like confocal microscopy, tear film biochemistry, and both culture-dependent and culture-independent microbial techniques. Her research is paving the way for more holistic and effective treatments for dry eye disease and other related eye conditions.

Dr Tavakoli hopes her work will enhance the lives of those suffering from dry eye and contribute to better understanding and management of inflammatory diseases of the eye.

Research Groups

• Ocular Surface Research (Inc. Dry Eye and Contact Lenses)

Publications

1. Isa, N.A.M., Krishnan, A.V., Zagami, A.S., Tummanapalli, S.S., Spira, K., Papas, E.B., Tavakoli, A. and Markoulli, M., 2022. A randomized crossover trial: The impact of ocular lubrication on migraine severity in persons with dry eye disease and migraine. Optometry and Vision Science, pp.10-1097. DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000002241
2. Papas E, Gunler N, Nanayakkara S, Tavakoli A, Alotaibi S, Maseedupally V, Dames N. Is there a clock in the cornea?  Experimental Eye Research, p.110356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exer.2025.110356
3. Tavakoli A, Markoulli M, Papas E, Flanagan J. The Impact of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Dry Eye Disease Signs and Symptoms. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 11.16 (2022): 4889. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11164889
4. Tavakoli, A Flanagan J. Dry eye disease: an (in) convenient truth. Clinical and Experimental Optometry. 105.2 (2022): 222-229. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2021.1945410
5. Tavakoli A & Flanagan J. The Case for a More Holistic Approach to Dry Eye Disease: Is It Time to Move Beyond Antibiotics? Antibiotics. 8.3 (2019): 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics8030088
6. Tavakoli A, Markoulli M, Flanagan J, Papas E. The validity of point of care tear film osmometers in the diagnosis of dry eye. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics. 42.1 (2022): 140-148. https://doi.org/10.1111/opo.12901
7. Chiang JC, Goldstein D, Tavakoli A, Trinh T, Klisser J, Lewis CR, Friedlander M, Naduvilath TJ, Au K, Park SB, Goldstein D. Corneal dendritic cells and the subbasal nerve plexus following neurotoxic treatment with oxaliplatin or paclitaxel. Scientific reports. 11.1 (2021): 22884. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02439-0
8. Chiang JC, Khou V, Tavakoli A, Park S, Goldstein D, Krishnan AV, Markoulli M. Reproducibility and reliability of sub-basal corneal nerve parameters of the inferior whorl in the neurotoxic and healthy cornea. Cornea. 41.12 (2022): 1487-1494. DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002947
9. Mahjoob M, Validam MH, Azimi Khorasani A, Shahrakipoor M, Momeni Moghadam H, Nejati J, Tavakoli A, Moradgholi M, Kamali P, Sargazi M, Relationship between central corneal thickness, intraocular pressure and visual field in normal-tension and primary open-angle glaucoma. Journal of Gorgan University of Medical Sciences. 14.2 (2012): 70-75. http://goums.ac.ir/journal/article-1-1325-en.html

Media

1. Tavakoli A, Farrant S. CPD: TFOS nutrition: Part 4: Nutrition and ocular surface health. Optician. 2024 Sep 6;270(6971):23-8. https://doi.org/10.12968/opti.2024.270.6971.23

Conference presentations

• Tavakoli A, Markoulli M, Papas E, Flanagan J, Dietary influences on the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS), Venice, Italy, 2024
• Tavakoli A, Flanagan J, Markoulli M, Papas E. The Impact of Contact Lens Wear on the Efficacy of Oral Probiotics and Prebiotics in Treating Dry Eye Disease. International Society for Contact Lens Research Symposium (ISCLR), Halifax, Canada, 2024
• Tavakoli A, Flanagan J, Papas E, Markoulli M. Dietary treatment of dry eye disease: Are probiotics and prebiotics effective? International Cornea & Contact Lens Congress (ICCLC), Gold Coast, Australia, 2024.
• Tavakoli A, Flanagan J, Papas E, Markoulli M. The impact of probiotics and prebiotics dietary supplements on dry eye disease. Scientific and Educators Meeting in Optometry (SEMO), Melbourne, Australia, 2023
• Tavakoli A, Flanagan J, Papas E, Markoulli M. Dietary treatment of dry eye disease: Are probiotics and prebiotics effective? British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) conference, Manchester, UK, 2023
• Tavakoli A, Flanagan J, Papas E, Markoulli M. The impact of probiotics and prebiotics on tear inflammatory biomarkers in dry eye disease. International Society of Eye Research (ISER) meeting, Gold Coast, Australia, 2023.
• Tavakoli A, Flanagan J, Papas E, Markoulli M, Dietary treatment of dry eye disease. International Conference on Rehabilitation Sciences (ICRS) and International Conference on Allied Health Sciences (ICAHS), Lahore, Pakistan, 2023
• Tavakoli A, Markoulli M, Papas E, Flanagan J. The Impact of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Dry Eye Disease Signs and Symptoms. International Cornea & Contact Lens Congress (ICCLC), Sydney, Australia, 2022.
• Tavakoli A, Markoulli M, Papas E, Flanagan J. The Impact of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Dry Eye Disease Signs and Symptoms. American Academy of Optometry (AAO) Press Conference, 2022.
• Tavakoli A, Markoulli M, Flanagan J, Papas E. The association between ocular discomfort and corneal dendritic cell densities. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June. 62.8 (2021): 383-383. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, 2021
• Tavakoli A, Papas E, Markoulli M, Flanagan J. The association between ocular and nasal bacterial communities in a dry eye population. Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) International Conference, Australia, 2021
• Chiang JC, Khou V, Tavakoli A, Goldstein D, Krishnan AV, Markoulli M. Corneal inferior whorl morphology and reproducibility with in-vivo confocal microscopy in peripheral neuropathy. ARVO Imaging in the Eye. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 62.11 (2021): 21-21. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting.2021
• Tavakoli A, Markoulli M, Flanagan J, Papas E. Measurement Repeatability of Two Point-of-Care Tear Film Osmometers. American Academy of Optometry (AAO) Annual Meeting, 2020.