INTRODUCTION Blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction are chronic inflammatory conditions with overlapping pathophysiology and symptomatology. Both microbial infection and seborrhea contribute to the pathophysiology and both may benefit from treatment with tea tree oil (TTO). We evaluated the therapeutic effect of eyelids scrubbing with TTO in a group of patients with lid margin disease. M...

PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that a membrane-spanning mucin, Muc1, facilitates the spread of tear film and protects against bacterial adherence. METHODS Age-matched, Muc1 null mice and wild-type mice of C57BL/6 genetic background were used for comparison. Eyes were examined by slit lamp biomicroscopy with fluorescein solution to assess epithelial damage and tear film stability. Structure of...

The natural tear film has mechanical, optical, antimicrobial and nutritional properties. Tear film components, such as EGF, fibronectin and vitamin A, play a vital role in the proliferation, migration and differentiation of the corneal and conjunctival epithelium. In ocular surface disease, such as severe dry eye, the epithelia may be depleted of these nutritional factors. Replacing the aqueous...

AIM To detect and analyze the changes on ocular surface and tear function in type II diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), an advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR), using conventional ophthalmic tests and the high-resolution laser scanning confocal microscopy. METHODS Fifty-eight patients with type II diabetes were selected. Based on the diagnostic criteria an...

The pre-ocular tear film is a complex biochemical structure produced by the lacrimal glands and epithelial cells on the ocular surface. Clinical syndromes of ocular irritation may result from deficiencies in one or more of these layers. At a recent dry eye workshop at the National Eye Institute, dry eye conditions were classified into those with adequate aqueous tear production and those with a...

The human tear film is a 3-layered coating of the surface of the eye and a loss, or reduction, in any layer of this film may result in a syndrome of blurry vision and burning pain of the eyes known as dry eye. The lacrimal gland and accessory glands provide multiple components to the tear film, most notably the aqueous. Dysfunction of these glands results in the loss of aqueous and other produc...

Dry eye disease (DED) was previously characterized as a tear film caused by deficit or extreme evaporation, injury to the inter-palpebral ocular surface and discomfort. Due discomfort, difficulties completing everyday tasks, depression, patients with moderate-to-severe DED may have worse quality of life. is rapidly developing health concern an increasing global prevalence. Therefore, physician ...

INTRODUCTION Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) affects exocrine glands such as those producing the tear film, leading to dry and painful eyes, but is also associated with fatigue. The experience of fatigue in pSS, and its relationship with sicca symptoms, is poorly understood. METHODS Twenty people diagnosed with pSS were recruited to participate in a semi-structured qualitative interview abou...

Ocular HSV-1 shedding from latently infected rabbits was induced by iontophoresis of 0.01% epinephrine into the eye. Anodal Iontophoresis of epinephrine was performed at 0.8 mAmps for 8 min once a day for 3 consecutive days. Shedding was determined by the presence of HSV-1 in the preocular tear film obtained via eye swabs. Bilateral epinephrine iontophoresis performed on selected days during 22...

BACKGROUND Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common tear film and ocular surface disease that results in discomfort, visual disturbance, and tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface. Systemic diseases associated with DES include diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, anxiety, thyroid disease, allergic diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain syndrome, an...