New understandings of how lipids function within tears could lead to better drugs for treating dry eye disease.
A new approach has given Hokkaido University researchers insight into the synthesis and functions of lipids found in tears. Their findings, published in the journal eLife, could help the search for new treatments for dry eye disease.
The film of tears covering the eye’s surface is vital for eliminating foreign objects, providing oxygen and nutrients to the eye’s outer tissues, and reducing friction with the eyelid. The film is formed of an outer lipid layer and an inner liquid layer.
