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School of Optometry

Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

Kelly K. Nichols headshot.

Dean

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HPB 121A

(205) 975-9935

Teaching/research interests: Dry Eye Disease

Education:   

  • OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

Kelly K. Nichols received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California at Berkeley, completed a residency in ocular disease at Omni Eye Specialists of Colorado, and earned her MPH in biostatistics and PhD in vision science at Ohio State University. In 2014, Dr. Nichols was named Dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. Prior to that appointment, Dr. Nichols was a professor at the University of Houston, College of Optometry, where she co-founded and served as Executive Director for the Ocular Surface Institute, a translational research institute focused on bench-to-bedside research on ocular surface conditions. Earlier, Dr. Nichols was faculty at the Ohio State University College of Optometry. She has served extensively on the executive board and for the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society, steering committees (DEWS, DEWS II, Contact Lens Discomfort, and MGD workshops), and is a member of the most recent global workshop “A Lifestyle Epidemic: Ocular Surface Disease.” A leading expert in dry eye disease, Dr. Nichols serves on the editorial board and The Ocular Surface and Menopause and is extensively published.

Research Interests: Dr. Nichols’ research interests encompass meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye in menopause, dry eye diagnostics and therapeutics, and tear proteomics and lipidomics.

Select publications:

Peer-reviewed papers with significant impact:

  • Smith JA, Albenz J, Begley C, Caffrey B, Nichols KK, Schaumberg D, Schein O. The epidemiology of dry eye disease: Report of the Epidemiology Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye Workshop. Ocular Surface, Volume 5, Issue 2, April 2007, Pages 93-107. Citations n=960, Scopus access 09-26-2023.
  • Craig JP, Nichols KK, Akpek EK, Caffery B, Dua HS, Joo CK, Liu Z, Nelson JD, Nichols JJ, Tsubota K, Stapleton F. TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Report 2017. Ocular Surface, Volume 15, Issue 3, July 2017, Pages 276-283. Citations n=1664, Scopus access 09-26-2023.
  • Bron AJ, Abelson MB, Ousler G, Pearce E, Tomlinson A, Yokoi N, Smith JA, Begley C, Caffery B, Nichols KK, Schaumberg D, Schein O, Calonge M, Baudouin C, Goto E, Grus F, Paugh J. Methodologies to diagnose and monitor dry eye disease: Report of the diagnostic Methodology Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye Workshop. Ocular Surface, Volume 5, Issue 2, April 2007, Pages 108-152. Citations n=663, Scopus access 09-26-2023.
  • Nichols KK, Nichols JJ, Mitchell GL. The lack of association between signs and symptoms in patients with dye eye disease. Cornea, Volume 23, Issue 8, November 2004, Pages 762-770. Citations n=604, Scopus access 09-26-2023.
  • Nichols KK, Foulks GN, Bron AJ, Glasgow BJ, Dogru M, Tsubota K, Lemp MA, Sullivan DA. The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: Executive summary. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Volume 52, Issue 4, March 2011, Pages 1922-1929. Citations n=694, Scopus access 09-26-2023.
  • Sullivan BD, Whitmer D, Nichols KK, Tomlinson A, Foulks GN, Geerling G, Pepose JS, Kosheleff V, Porreco A, Lemp MA. An objective approach to dry eye disease severity. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Volume 51, Issue 12, December 2010, Pages 6125-6130. Citations n= 418, Scopus access 09-26-2023.
  • Geerling G, Tauber J, Baudouin C, Goto E, Matsumoto Y, O’Brien T, Rolando M, Tsubota K, Nichols KK. The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: Report of the subcommittee on management and treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Volume 52, Issue 4, March 2011, Pages 2050-2064. Citations n= 458, Scopus 09-26-2023.
  • Nichols KK, Mitchell GL, Zadnik K. The repeatability of clinical measurements of dry eye. Cornea, Volume 23, Issue 3, April 2004, Pages 272-285. Citations n=366, Scopus access 09-26-2023.
  • Schaumberg DA, Nichols JJ, Papas EB, Tong L, Uchino M, Nichols KK. The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: Report of the subcommittee on the epidemiology of, and associated risk factors for, MGD. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Volume 52, Issue 4, March 2011, Pages 1994-2005. Citations n=427, Scopus access 09-26-2023.
  • Begley CG, Chalmers RL, Mitchell GL, Nichols KK, Caffery B, Simpson T, DuToit R, Portello J, Davis L. Characterization of ocular surface symptoms from optometric practices in North America. Cornea, Volume 20, Issue 6, 2001, Pages 610-618. Citations n=242, Scopus access 09-26-2023.

Recent peer-reviewed papers: (most recent first)

  • Ajouz L, Nguyen A, Zhao C, Robinson MR, Nichols KK. Exploring signs and symptoms associated with meibomian gland dysfunction for use as clinical trial endpoints. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2023 Aug 29. doi:10.1089/jop.2023.0064 PMID: 37643299.
  • Nagar S, Ajouz L, Nichols KK, Kumar S, Zhao C, Naidoo K, Robinson M, Borchman D. Relationship between human meibum lipid composition and the severity of meibomian gland dysfunction: A spectroscopic analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023 Jul 3;64(10):22. doi: 10.1167/iovs.64.10.22. PMID: 37466951.
  • Rhee M, Yeu E, Barnett M, Rapuano C, Dhaliwal D, Nichols KK, Karpecki P, Mah F, Chan A, Mun J, Gaddie IB. Demodex blepharitis: A comprehensive review of the disease, current management, and emerging therapies. Eye Contact Lens 2023 Aug 1;49(8):311-318. doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000001003. PMID: 37272680.
  • Tauber J, Laurie GW, Parsons EC, Odrich MG, Abrams MA, Asbell PA, Berdy GJ, Bergstrom LK, Bowden FW, Bower KS, Boyce JD, Davanzo RJ, El-Harazi L, Epitropoulos AT, Forstot SL, Goldberg F, Greiner JV, Haider KM, Hardten DR, Hauswirth SG, Hom MM, Kelley KA, Khachikian SS, Kim JL, Majmudar PA, Martel JR, Massaro-Giordano G, McGehee, TW, McNamara NA, Meyer JC, Nichols KK, Perez BR, Rubin MS, Sall K, Schultze RL, Schwartz JL, Segal B, Sheppard JD, Thompson VM, Tims JS, Van DT. Lacripep for the treatment of primary Sjögren-associated ocular surface disease: Results of the first-in-human study. Cornea 2023 Jul 1;42(7):847-857. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003091. PMID: 35942530.
  • Galor A, Britten-Jones AC, Feng Y, Ferrari G, Goldblum D, Gupta PK, Merayo-Lloves J, Na KS, Naroo SA, Nichols KK, Rocha EM, Tong L, Wang MTM, Craig JP. TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of lifestyle challenges on the ocular surface. Ocul Surf 2023 Apr;28:262-303. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.04.008. PMID: 37054911.
  • Ayres BD, Donnenfeld E, Farid M, Gaddie IB, Gupta PK, Holland E, Karpecki PM, Lindstrom R, Nichols KK, Pflugfelder SC, Starr CE, Yeu E. Clinical diagnosis and management of demodex blepharitis: The demodex expert panel on treatment and eyelid health (DEPTH). Eye (Lond) 2023 Mar 24. doi: 10.1038/s41433-023-02500-4. PMID: 36964261.
  • Sheppard J, Nichols KK. Dry eye disease associated with meibomian gland dysfunction: Focus on tear film characteristics and the therapeutic landscape. Ophthalmol Ther 2023 Mar 1. doi: 10.1007/s40123-023-00669-1. PMID: 36856980.
  • Farid M, Ayres BD, Donnenfeld E, Gaddie IB, Gupta P, Holland E, Lindstrom R, Pflugfelder SC, Karpecki PM, Nichols KK, Starr CE, Yeu E. Delphi panel consensus regarding current clinical practice management options for demodex blepharitis. Clin Ophthalmol 2023 Feb 27;17:667-679. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S399989. PMID: 36875531.
  • Cavanagh B, Gomes P, Starr C, Nichols KK, Brady T. Reproxalap activity and estimation of clinically relevant thresholds for ocular itching and redness in a randomized allergic conjunctivitis field trial. Ophthalmol Ther 2022 May. doi: 10.1007/s40123-022-00520-z. PMID: 35585427.
  • Pflugfelder S, Cao A, Galor A, Nichols KK, Cohen N, Dalton M. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor stimulation: A new approach for stimulating tear secretion in dry eye disease. Ocul Surf 2022 May; 25:58-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2022.05.001. PMID: 35550851.
  • Nichols KK, Donnenfeld E, Lau C, Syntosi A, Karpecki P, Hovanesian J. Reduction of artificial tears and use of adjunctive dry eye therapies after Lifitegrast treatment: Evidence from clinical and real-world studies. Clin Ophthalmol 2022 Mar 25;16:909-916. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S347496. PMID: 35368241.
  • Nichols KK, Malloy KA, Karpecki PM, Bacharach J, Douglas RS, Foster S, Gromacki SJ, Whitley WO.Topical review: An update of diagnostic and management algorithms for acquired blepharoptosis. Optom Vis Sci 2022 Jan 20. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001868. PMID: 35058403.
  • McDonald M, Barnett M, Gaddie I, Karpecki P, Mah F, Nichols KK, Trattler W. Classification of Presbyopia by Severity. Ophthalmol Ther Epub 2021 Oct 28. doi: 10.1007/s40123-021-00410-w. PMID: 34709607. Erratum in Ophthalmol Ther 2022 Feb; 11(1):13-14. doi: 10.1007/s40123-021-00429-z. PMID: 34800262.
  • Mousavi M, Garaszczuk IK, De Jesus DA, Szczesna-Iskander DH, Armstrong RA, Nichols KK, Iskander DR. Tear film surface quality in modern daily disposable contact lens wear. Eye Contact Lens 2021 Dec 1;47(12):631-637. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000811. PMID: 34797270.
  • Khanal S, Bai Y, Ngo W. Nichols KK, Wilson L. Barnes S, Nichols JJ. Human meibum and tear film derived cholesteryl and wax esters in meibomian gland dysfunction and tear film structure. Ocul Surf 2022 Jan; 23:12-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.10.009. PMID: 34774809.
  • Ziemanski JF, Wilson L. Barnes S, Nichols KK. Prostaglandin E2 and F2α alter expression of select cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols produced by human meibomian gland epithelial cells. Cornea 2022 Jan 1;41(1):95-105. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002835.PMID: 34483274.
  • Bai Y, Ngo W, Khanal S, Nichols KK, Nichols JJ.Corrigendum to “Human precorneal tear film and lipid layer dynamics in meibomian gland dysfunction.” Ocul Surf 2021 Jul;21:250-256. Ocul Surf 2021 Oct;22:133-134. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.08.005. PMID: 34411734.
  • Khanal S, Bai Y, Ngo W, Nichols KK, Wilson L, Barnes S, Nichols JJ. Human meibum and tear film derived (O-acyl)-omega-hydroxy fatty acids as biomarkers of tear film dynamics in meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021 Jul 1; 62(9):13. doi: 10.1167/iovs.62.9.13. PMID: 34236383.
  • Khanal S, Ngo W, Nichols KK, Wilson L, Barnes S, Nichols JJ. Human meibum and tear film derived (O-acyl)-omega-hydroxy fatty acids in meibomian gland dysfunction. Ocul Surf 2021 Jul;21:118-128. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.05.009. PMID: 34052415.
  • Ziemanski JF, Wilson L, Barnes S, Nichols KK. Triacylglycerol lipidome from human meibomian gland epithelial cells: Description, response to culture conditions, and perspective on function. Exp Eye Res 2021 Jun;207:108573. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108573. PMID: 33848521.
  • Bai Y, Ngo W, Khanal S, Nichols KK, Nichols JJ. Human precorneal tear film and lipid layer dynamics in meibomian gland dysfunction. Ocul Surf 2021 Jul;21:250-256. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.03.006. Epub 2021 Mar 23. PMID: 33771707.
  • Hovanesian JA, Nichols KK, Jackson M, Katz J, Chan A, Glassberg MB, Sloesen B, Korves C, Nguyen C, Syntosi A. Real-world experience with lifitegrast ophthalmic solution (Xiidra) in the US and Canada: Retrospective study of patient characteristics, treatment patters, and clinical effectiveness in 600 patients with dry eye disease. Clin Ophthalmol 2021 Mar 8;15:1041-1054. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S296510. PMID: 3372776.
  • Willis K, Postnikoff C, Freeman A, Rezonzew G, Nichols KK, Gaggar A, Lal. The closed eye harbors a unique microbiome in dry eye disease. Sci Rep 2020 Jul 21; 10(1):12035. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68952-w, PMID: 32694705.
  • Ziemanski JF, Wilson L, Barnes S, Nichols KK. Saturation of cholesteryl esters produced by human meibomian gland epithelial cells after treatment with rosiglitazone. Ocul Surf 2020 Nov 25;S1542-0124(20)30180-4. doi: 10.1016/j.tos.2020.11.011. PMID: 33248214.
  • Nichols KK, Evans DG, Karpecki PM. A comprehensive review of the clinical trials conducted for dry eye disease and the impact of the vehicle comparators in these trials. Curr Eye Res 2020 Nov 25; 1-6. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2020.1836226. PMID: 33238774.
  • Postnikoff CK, Held K, Viswanath V, Nichols KK. Enhanced closed eye neutrophil degranulation in dry eye disease. Ocul Surf 2020. Oct; 18(4):841-851. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2020.08.011. Epub 2020 Sep 2. PMID: 32889089.
  • Korenfeld M, Nichols KK, Goldberg D, Evans D, Sall K, Foulks G, Coultas S, Brazzell K. Safety of KP-121 ophthalmic suspension 0.25% in patients with dry eye disease: A pooled analysis of 4 multicenter, randomized, vehicle-controlled studies. Cornea 2020 Aug 19. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002452. PMID: 32826644.
  • Willis K, Postnikoff C, Freeman A, Rezonzew G, Nichols KK, Gaggar A, Lal C. The closed eye harbors a unique microbiome in dry eye disease. Sci Rep 2020 Jul 21; 10(1):12035. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68952-w, PMID: 32694705, PMCID: PMC7374690
  • Ziemanski JF, Chen J, Nichols KK. Evaluation of cell harvesting techniques to optimize lipidomic analysis from human meibomian gland epithelial cells in culture. Int J Mol Sci 2020;21(9):E3277. Published 2020 May 6. doi:10.3390/ijms21093277
  • Osei KA, Cox SM, Nichols KK. Dry eye disease practice in Ghana: Diagnostic perspectives, treatment modalities, and challenges. Optom Vis Sci 2020 Mar; 97(3):137-144. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001487. PMID: 32168235.
  • Tichenor AA, Cox SM, Ziemanski JF, Ngo W, Karpecki PM, Nichols KK, Nichols JJ. Effect of the Bruder moist heat eye compress on contact lens discomfort in contact lens wearers: An open label randomized clinical trial. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2019: 42 (6), 625-632, PMID 31587960, doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2019.09.005
  • Tichenor AA, Ziemanski JF, Ngo W, Nichols JJ, Nichols KK. Tear Film and Meibomian Gland Characteristics in Adolescents. Cornea 2019: 38 (12), 1475-1482, PMID 31567628, doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002154
  • Chen J, Nichols KK. Erratum: Comprehensive shotgun lipidomics of human meibomian gland secretions using MS/ MSall with successive switching between acquisition polarity modes J Lipid Res 2019: 60 (9), 1640. PMID: 31474617, doi: 10.1194/jlr.ERR119000263
  • Holland EJ, Darvish M, Nichols KK, Jones L, Karpecki PM. Efficacy of topical ophthalmic drugs in the treatment of dry eye disease: A systematic literature review. Ocul Surf 2019 Jul;17(3):412-423. Epub 2019 Mar 4. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2019.02.012.
  • Chen J, Nichols KK, Wilson L. Barnes S, Nichols JJ. Untargeted lipidomic analysis of human tears: A new approach for quantification of O-acyl-omega hydroxyl fatty acids. Ocul Surf 2019 Feb 25. pii: S1542-0124(18)30352-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2019.02.004 PMID: 30818035
  • Matossian C, McDonald M, Donaldson KE, Nichols KK, MacIver S, Gupta PK. Dry eye disease: consideration for women’s health. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2019 Apr;28(4): 502-514. doi 10.1089/jwh.2018.7041. Epub 2019 Jan 29. PMID: 30694724
  • Chen J, Nichols KK. Comprehensive shotgun lipidomics of human meibomian gland secretions using MS/MSall with successive switching between acquisition polarity modes. Journal of Lipid Research 2018 Nov; 59(11): 2223-2236. doi: 10.1194/jlr. D088138. Epub 2018 Oct 2. PMID: 30279222
  • Postnikoff CK, Huisingh C. McGwin G, Nichols KK. Leukocyte distribution in the open eye tears of normal and dry eye subjects. Curr Eye Res 2018 Oct;43(10):1253-1259. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2018. 1500611. Epub 2018 Aug 9. Erratum in Curr Eye Res 2018 Oct; 43(10): x. PMID: 30005585
  • Ngo W, Chen J, Panthi S, Nichols KK, Nichols JJ. Comparison of collection methods for the measure of human meibum and tear film-derived lipids using mass spectrometry. Curr Eye Res 2018 Oct; 43(10):1244-1252. doi 10.1080/02713683.2018.1501803. Epub 2018 Aug 6. PMID: 30081661
  • McDermott AM, Baidouri H, Woodward AM, Kam WR, Liu Y, Chen X, Ziemanski JF, Vistisen K, Hazlett LD, Nichols KK, Argueso P, Sullivan DA. Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Profiles of commonly used human ocular surface cell lines. Curr Eye Res 2018 Sep; 43(9): 1097-1101. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2018. 1480043. Epub 2018 Jun 4. PMID: 29787296
  • Nichols KK, Donnenfeld ED, Karpecki PM, Hovanesian JA, Raychaudhuri A, Shojaei A, Zhang S. Safety and tolerability of Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0%: Pooled analysis of five randomized controlled trials in dry eye disease. Eur J Ophthalmol 2018 Aug 16: 1120672118791936. doi: 10. 1177/1120672118791936 (Epub ahead of print) PMID: 30112930
  • Ziemanski J, Chen J, Nichols KK. The effects of omega-6: omega-3 fatty acid ratios on the lipidome from human meibomian gland epithelial cells treated with and without 13-cis retinoic acid. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci July 2018;59: ARVO E-abstract 3810. https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2691588&resultClick=1
  • Nichols KK, Holland E, Toyos MM, Peace JH, Majmudar P, Raychaudhuri A, Hamdani M, Roy M, Shojaei A. Ocular comfort assessment of Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0% in OPUS-3, a Phase III randomized controlled trial. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018 Jan 31; 12:263-270. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S152841. eCollection 2018. Erratum in: Clin Ophthalmol 2018 May 17;12:913. PMID: 29440868
  • Blackie CA, Coleman CA, Nichols KK, Jones L, Chen PQ, Melton R, Kading DL, O'Dell LE, Srinivasan S. A single vectored thermal pulsation treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction increases mean comfortable contact lens wearing time by approximately 4 hours per day. Clin Ophthalmol 2018 Jan 17; 12:169-183. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S153297. eCollection 2018. PMID: 29398904
  • Ziemanski JF, Wolters LR, Jones-Jordan L, Nichols JJ, Nichols KK. Relation between dietary essential fatty acid intake and dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Am J Ophthalmol 2018 May;189:29-40. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2018.01.004. Epub 2018 Jan 11. PMID: 29337006
  • Postnikoff CK, Nichols KK. Neutrophil and t-cell homeostasis in the closed eye. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017;58(14):6212-6220. doi: 10.1167/iovs.17-22449. PMID: 29222551
  • Craig JP, Nelson JD, Azar DT, Belmonte C, Bron AJ, Chauhan SK, de Paiva CS, Gomes JAP, Hammitt KM, Jones L, Nichols JJ, Nichols KK, Novack GD, Stapleton FJ, Willcox MDP, Wolffsohn JS, Sullivan DA. TFOS DEWS II Executive Summary. Ocul Surf 2017; 15: 802-812. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2017.08.003. PMID: 28797892
  • Craig JP, Nichols KK, Akpek EK, Caffrey B, Dua HS, Joo CK, Liu Z, Nelson JD, Nichols JJ, Tsubota K, Stapleton F. TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Report. Ocul Surf 2017; 15: 276-283. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2017.05.008. PMID: 28736335
  • Nelson JD, Craig JP, Akpek EK, Azar DT, Belmonte C, Bron AJ, Clayton JA, Dogru M, Dua HS, Foulks GN, Gomes JAP, Hammitt KM, Holopainen J, Jones L, Joo CK, Liu Z, Nichols JJ, Nichols KK, Novack GD, Sangwan V, Stapleton F, Tomlinson A, Tsubota K, Willcox MDP, Wolffsohn JS, Sullivan DA. TFOS DEWS II Introduction. Ocul Surf 2017; 15: 269-275. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2017.05.005. PMID: 28736334
  • Chen J, Keirsey JK, Green KB, Nichols KK. Expression profiling of nonpolar lipids in meibum from patients with dry eye: a pilot study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 58: 2266-2274. doi: 10.1167/iovs.16-20902.
  • Holland EJ, Luchs J, Karpecki PM, Nichols KK, Jackson MA, Sall K, Tauber J, Roy M, Raychaudhuri A, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast for the treatment of dry eye disease: results of a phase III, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial (OPUS-3). Ophthalmology 2017; 124: 53-60. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.09.025. PMID: 28079022

Recent abstracts (2018 forward):

  • Meadows J, Chen J, Nichols KK. The effects of omega-6: omega-3 fatty acid ratios on the lipidome from human meibomian gland epithelial cells treated with and without 13-cis-retinoic acid. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, April 2018, Honolulu, HI.
  • Chen J, Nichols KK, Nichols JJ. Untargeted mass spectrometry analysis of lipids in human tears. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, April 2018, Honolulu, HI.
  • Ngo W, Ziemanski J, Nichols J, Nichols KK. Meibomian gland assessments in the upper and lower eyelids in a pediatric sample. Optom Vis Sci 2018; E-abstract 185009.
  • Postnikoff C, Held K, Swain T, Viswanath V, McGwin G, Nichols KK. Closed eye neutrophil degranulation is associated with dry eye disease. Optom Vis Sci 2018; E-abstract 180012.
  • Robbins C, Ziemanski J, Nichols KK. Meibomian gland tortuosity in a young adult population engaging in intensive daily electronic device use. Optom Vis Sci 2018; E-abstract 185010.
  • Chen J, Nichols KK, Nichols J. Untargeted mass spectrometry analysis of lipids in human tears. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci July 2018; 59(9): ARVO E-abstract 3285.
  • Figueiredo F, Donnenfeld ED, Baudouin C, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Karpecki P, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Combined efficacy and safety outcomes from 5 randomized controlled trials of Lifitegrast 5.0% for treatment of dry eye disease. 25th annual scientific meeting of the Medical Contact Lens & Ocular Surface Association. 2018. Published. London, United Kingdom.
  • Figueiredo F, Donnenfeld, ED, Baudouin C, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Karpecki P, Hamdani M. Shojaei A. Combined efficacy and safety outcomes from 5 randomized controlled trials of Lifitegrast 5.0% for treatment of dry eye disease. 25th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Medical Contact Lens & Ocular Surface Association. 2018. Poster Presentation.
  • Dua H, Perez V, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Tauber J, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Efficacy and safety of Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0% for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED): results from five randomized controlled trials. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists Annual Congress 2018. Published. Liverpool, United Kingdom.
  • Dua H, Perez V, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Tauber J, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Efficacy and safety of Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0% for the treatment of dry eye disease: results from 5 randomized controlled trials. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists Annual Congress 2018. Poster Presentation.
  • Benitez del Castillo JM, Donnenfeld ED, Baudouin C Perez VL, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Karpecki PM, Tauber J, Raychaudhuri A, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast 5.0% for treatment of dry eye disease: combined efficacy and safety outcomes from 5 randomized controlled trials. World Ophthalmology Congress 2018. Published. Barcelona, Spain.
  • Benitez del Castillo JM, Donnenfeld ED, Baudouin C Perez VL, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Karpecki PM, Tauber J, Raychaudhuri A, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast 5.0% for treatment of dry eye disease: combined efficacy and safety outcomes from 5 randomized controlled trials. World Ophthalmology Congress 2018. Oral Presentation. Barcelona, Spain.
  • Lee WB, Donnenfeld ED, Baudouin C, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Hamdani M, Zhang SY, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast 5.0% for treatment of dry eye disease: combined efficacy and safety outcomes from 5 randomized controlled trials. Centro Mexicano de Cornea y Cirugia Refractiva-XXIV Curso Internacional 2018. Oral Presentation. Acapulco, Mexico.
  • Lee WB, Donnenfeld ED, Baudouin C, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Hamdani M, Zhang SY, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast 5.0% for treatment of dry eye disease: combined efficacy and safety outcomes from 5 randomized controlled trials. Centro Mexicano de Cornea y Cirugia Refractiva-XXIV Curso Internacional 2018. Published. Acapulco, Mexico.
  • Tauber J, Holland EJ, Baudouin C, Donnenfeld ED, Nichols KK, Karpecki PM, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Response to Lifitegrast 5.0% for the treatment of dry eye disease: responder analysis for reductions in eye dryness score in two phase 3 randomized controlled trials. 14th International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2018. Oral Presentation.
  • Tauber J, Holland EJ, Baudouin C, Donnenfeld ED, Nichols KK, Karpecki PM, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Response to Lifitegrast 5.0% for the treatment of dry eye disease: responder analysis for reductions in eye dryness score in two phase 3 randomized controlled trials. 14th International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2018. Published. Tel Aviv, Israel.
  • Tauber J, Perez VL, Baudouin C, Darvish-Zargar M, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Efficacy and safety of Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0% for the treatment of dry eye disease: combined evidence from five randomized controlled trials. 14th International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2018. Poster Presentation.
  • Tauber J, Holland EJ, Baudouin C, Donnenfeld ED, Nichols KK, Karpecki PM, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Efficacy and safety of Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0% for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED): combined evidence from five randomized controlled trials. 14th International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics meeting, 2018. Published. Tel Aviv, Israel.
  • Santo R, Donnenfeld ED, Baudouin C, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Karpecki P, Hamdani M. Shojaei A. Lifitegrast efficacy and safety for treatment of dry eye disease: overview of 5 randomized controlled trials. Conselho Brasileiro de Oftalmologia-62nd Congresso Brasileiro de Oftalmologia. 2018. Poster Presentation. Maceio, Brazil.
  • Santo R, Donnenfeld ED, Baudouin C, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Karpecki P, Hamdani M. Shojaei A. Lifitegrast efficacy and safety for treatment of dry eye disease: overview of 5 randomized controlled trials. Conselho Brasileiro de Oftalmologia-62nd Congresso Brasileiro de Oftalmologia. Published. 2018. Maceio, Brazil.
  • Darvish-Zargar M, Holland EJ, Baudouin C. Donnenfeld ED, Nichols KK, Karpecki PM, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Reductions in eye dryness score in response to Lifitegrast 5.0% for the treatment of dry eye disease: responder analysis from two phase 3 randomized controlled trials. Canadian Ophthalmological Society-Annual Meeting and Exhibition. 2018. Poster Presentation. Toronto, Canada.
  • Darvish-Zargar M, Holland EJ, Baudouin C. Donnenfeld ED, Nichols KK, Karpecki PM, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Reductions in eye dryness score in response to Lifitegrast 5.0% for the treatment of dry eye disease: responder analysis from two phase 3 randomized controlled trials. Canadian Ophthalmological Society-Annual Meeting and Exhibition. 2018. Published. Toronto, Canada.
  • Morral M, Benitez del Castillo JM, Donnenfeld ED, Baudouin C, Perez VL, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Karpecki PM, Tauber J, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast efficacy and safety for treatment of dry eye disease: overview of 5 randomized controlled trials. European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons-36th Congress. 2018. Poster Presentation. Vienna, Austria.
  • Morral M, Benitez del Castillo JM, Donnenfeld ED, Baudouin C, Perez VL, Holland EJ, Nichols KK, Karpecki PM, Tauber J, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast efficacy and safety for treatment of dry eye disease: overview of 5 randomized controlled trials. European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons-36th Congress. 2018. Published. Vienna, Austria.
  • Trotter P, Darvish M, Donnenfeld E, Holland E, Nichols KK, Karpecki P, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast efficacy and safety for treatment of dry eye disease: overview of 5 randomized controlled trials. Canadian Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting and Exhibition. 2019. Poster.
  • Gonzalez AL, Donnenfeld E, Baudouin C, Holland E, Nichols KK, Karpecki P, Hamdani M. Shojaei A. Lifitegrast 5.0% for dry eye disease: combined efficacy & safety from 5 randomized controlled trials. Gerontological Society of America-72nd Annual Scientific Meeting. 2019. Austin, TX. Submitted.
  • Trotter P, Darvish M, Donnenfeld E, Holland E, Nichols KK, Karpecki P, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast efficacy and safety for treatment of dry eye disease: overview of 5 randomized controlled trials. Canadian Ophthalmological Society-Annual Meeting and Exhibition 2019. Quebec City, Canada.
  • Matossian C, McDonald M, Donaldson K, Nichols KK, MacIver S, Gupta PK. Dry eye disease: consideration for women’s health. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2019 Apr;28(4):502-514. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2018.7041. Epub 2019 Jan 29.
  • Postnikoff C, Held KS, Gann D, Swain T, Viswanath V, Nichols KK. Efficacy of a saline rinse of the ocular surface immediately upon awakening: a novel therapeutic approach for dry eye disease. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, May 2019. Vancouver, Canada.
  • Watson S, Donnenfeld E, Holland E, Nichols KK, Hamdani M, Naser N. Efficacy and safety of lifitegrast for the treatment of dry eye disease: Overview of five randomized controlled trials. Annual Scientific Congress of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, November 2019.
  • Nichols KK, Donnenfeld E, Karpecki P, Hovanesian J, Raychaudhuri A, Shojaei A, Zhang S. Safety and tolerability of lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0%: Pooled analysis of five randomized controlled trials in dry eye disease. Eur J Ophthalmol. 29(4), 394-401. Jul 2019. PMID: 30112930. doi: 10.1177/1120672118791936.
  • Holland E, Darvish M, Nichols KK, Jones L, Karpecki P. Efficacy of topical ophthalmic drugs in the treatment of dry eye disease: A systematic literature review. Ocul Surf. 17(3), 412-423. July 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2019.02.012. PMID: 30844466
  • Chen J, Nichols KK, Wilson L, Barnes S, Nichols JJ. Untargeted lipidomic analysis of human tears: A new approach for quantification of O-acyl-omega hydroxyl fatty acids. Ocul Surf. 17(2): 347-355. doi: 10.1016/j.tos.2019.02.004 PMID: 30818035
  • Matossian C, McDonald M, Donaldson K, Nichols KK, MacIver S, Gupta P. Dry eye disease: Consideration for Women’s Health. J. Womens Health (Larchmt), 28(4): 502-514, Apr 2019. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2018.7041. PMID: 30694724
  • Gonzalez A, Donnenfeld E, Baudouin C, Holland E, Nichols KK, Karpecki P, Hamdani M, Shojaei A. Lifitegrast 5.0% for dry eye disease: Combined efficacy and safety from 5 randomized controlled trials. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America 72nd Annual Meeting. 2019 Nov.
  • Tichenor A, Cox S, Ziemanski J, Ngo W, Karpecki P, Nichols KK, Nichols, JJ. Effect of the Bruder moist heat eye compress on contact lens discomfort in contact lens wearers: An open-label randomized clinical trial. Cont Lens Anterior Eye, 42(6), 625-632. Dec 2019. PMID: 31587960; doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2019.09.005
  • Tichenor A, Ziemanski J, Ngo W, Nichols JJ, Nichols KK. Tear film and meibomian gland characteristics in adolescents. Cornea, 38(12), 1475-1482. Dec 2019. PMID: 31567628; doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002154
  • Chen J, Nichols KK. Erratum: Comprehensive shotgun lipidomics of human meibomian gland secretions using MS/MSall with successive switching between acquisition polarity modes. J Lipid Res, 60(9), 1640 Sep 2019. PMID: 31474617. doi: 10.1194/jlr.ERR119000263
  • Holland E, Nichols KK, Foulks G, Gupta P, Sall K, Coultas S, Brazzell R. Efficacy and safety of KPI-121 0.25% for short term relief in dry eye (STRIDE). Annual American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) and American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA), May 2020. Poster Presentation.
  • Katz J, Nichols KK, Jackson M, Syntosi A, Chan A, Glassberg M, Huynh L, Nguyen C, Sloesen B, Hovanesian J. Xiidra chart review: An analysis of patient characteristics and treatment pathways from a retrospective chart review of patients with dry eye disease receiving lifitegrast in the USA and Canada. EuCornea virtual congress, Sep 2020. Poster presentation.
  • Mousavi M, Garaszczuk I, Iskander R, Szczesna-Iskander D, Nichols KK. Evaluation of tear film surface quality noninvasively during daily soft contact lens wear. 2020 American Academy of Optometry. Program 205089. Poster presentation.
  • Whitley W, Nichols KK, Hom M, Karpecki P, Coultas S, Brazzell K. Safety of KPI-121 ophthalmic suspension 0.25% in patients with dry eye disease: A pooled analysis of four multicenter randomized vehicle-controlled studies. 2020 American Academy of Optometry. Program 205076. Poster presentation.
  • Ziemanski JF, Wilson L, Barnes S, Nichols KK. The triacylglycerol lipidome from human meibomian gland epithelia cells: Description and response to culture conditions. 2020 American Academy of Optometry. Program 200012. Paper presentation.
  • Ziemanski JF, Wilson L, Barnes S, Nichols KK. Latanoprost and benzalkonium chloride alter cell viability and the nonpolar lipid profile produced by human meibomian gland epithelial cells in culture. 2020 American Academy of Optometry. Program 200013. Paper presentation.
  • Holland E, Nichols KK, Foulks G, Gupta PK, Sall K, Coultas S, Brazzell RK. Safety and Efficacy of KPI-121 Ophthalmic Suspension 0.25% for Dry Eye Disease in Four Randomized Controlled Trials. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Survey Annual Meeting. July 2021. Las Vegas, NV. Poster presentation.
  • Nichols KK. Patient reported outcomes for symptomatic dry eye flares: Results from multiple patient surveys. 2021 American Academy of Optometry. November 2021. Poster presentation.
  • Brujic M, Giyanani J, Chang W, Waknis V, Pack W, Shabaik Y, Seal J, Gore A, Nichols KK. Corneal permeability of Pilocarpine HCI 1. 25% with varying pH formulations. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting. April 2022. New Orleans, LA. Poster presentation.
  • Johnston J, Adler R, Hessen M, Nichols KK, Pflugfelder S, Truett K, Urbieta M, Mitchell B. Effect of OTX-101 0.09% on corneal staining and SANDE scores in patients with dry eye disease uncontrolled on cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05%. Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Nexus 2023, Oct. 16-19, 2023. Orlando, FL. Poster Presentation.

Clinical specialties/areas of expertise: Dry Eye Disease

Academic distinctions and professional societies:  

  • Alabama Optometric Association
  • American Academy of Optometry
  • American Optometric Association
  • American Public Health Association
  • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
  • National Academies of Practice
  • The Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society
  • Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
  • National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR/AEVR)

UAB/Area student groups you participate in:

AAO, NOSA, AOSA, BSK