Pathological effects of lacrimal keratoconjunctivitis on the ocular surface

Dysfunction of the lacrimal functional unit has adverse consequences for the ocular surface. Although the cause of the ocular surface pathology accompanying tear secretory dysfunction is not completely understood, it appears to be due in large part to compositional changes in the tear fluid. These include decreased concentrations of growth factors and anti-inflammatory factors, and increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines that originate from diseased lacrimal glands (as in Sjögren’s syndrome), meibomian glands (as in rosacea) and ocular surface epithelia [1,2].