title: Inflammation in dry eye.
abstract: Dry eye is a condition of altered tear composition that results from a diseased or dysfunctional lacrimal functional unit. Evidence suggests that inflammation causes structural alterations and/or functional paralysis of the tear-secreting glands. Changes in tear composition resulting from lacrimal dysfunction, increased evaporation and/or poor clearance have pro-inflammatory effects on the ocular surface. This inflammation is responsible in part for the irritation symptoms, ocular surface epithelial disease, and altered corneal epithelial barrier function in dry eye. Anti-inflammatory therapies for dry eye target one or more of the inflammatory mediators/pathways that have been identified in dry eye.
authors.affiliation: Allergan, Inc., Irvine, California, USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pflugfelder