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Regulation of Tear Secretion

  • Chapter
Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 350))

Abstract

The tear film, which is the interface between the external environment and the ocular surface has several differing functions.1 It forms a smooth refracting surface over the otherwise irregular corneal surface and lubricates the eyelids. Moreover, it maintains an optimal extracellular environment for the epithelial cells of the cornea and conjunctiva because the electrolyte composition, osmolarity, pH, O2 and CO2 levels, nutrient levels, and concentration of growth factors in the tears is regulated within narrow limits. Tears dilute and wash away noxious stimuli.1,2 They also provide an antibacterial system for the ocular surface and serve as an entry pathway for polymorphonuclear leukocytes, in the case of injury to the ocular surface. As tears have many and varied functions, it is not surprising that they have a complex structure and are produced by several different sources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schepens Eye Research Institute Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Darlene A. Dartt

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  1. Darlene A. Dartt
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Schepens Eye Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    David A. Sullivan

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© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Dartt, D.A. (1994). Regulation of Tear Secretion. In: Sullivan, D.A. (eds) Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 350. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2417-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2417-5_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6025-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-2417-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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