👁️ Dry Eye Syndrome Tear Film Simulator

The Healthy Three-Layer Tear Film

A stable tear film protects and optically smooths the cornea.

• ~7 µm: Total film thickness (placeholder figure)
• >10 s: Normal TBUT (placeholder figure)
• ~15/min: Blink rate (placeholder figure)
• 3: Layers (lipid, aqueous, mucin)

Layer architecture

Placeholder: each layer serves a distinct protective role.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction & Lipid Loss

A thinned lipid layer lets tears evaporate faster than normal.

• ~50%: MGD prevalence (placeholder figure)
• ↑2–4×: Evaporation rate (placeholder figure)
• ↓60%: Lipid thickness (placeholder figure)
• <10 s: TBUT (placeholder figure)

Evaporative dry eye

Placeholder: gland blockage reduces oil secretion onto the tear surface.

Reduced Lacrimal Secretion

Low aqueous volume concentrates tears and irritates the surface.

• Sjögren / non-Sjögren: Aqueous deficiency type (placeholder figure)
• ↑ hyperosmolar: Tear osmolarity (placeholder figure)
• <5 mm: Schirmer test (placeholder figure)
• <5 s: TBUT (placeholder figure)

Hyperosmolar stress

Placeholder: thinning aqueous layer raises osmolarity and damages cells.

Tear Film Breakup and Ocular Surface Dryness

Dry spots expose the cornea, triggering pain and inflammation.

• <3 s: TBUT (placeholder figure)
• High: Surface staining (placeholder figure)
• ↑ elevated: Inflammatory markers (placeholder figure)
• Severe: Symptom score (placeholder figure)

Vicious cycle

Placeholder: instability and inflammation reinforce each other.

Stabilization with Artificial Tears or Cyclosporine

Lubricant drops or cyclosporine restore film stability over time.

• Fast, short-term: Artificial tears effect (placeholder figure)
• Slow, disease-modifying: Cyclosporine effect (placeholder figure)
• ~weeks: Onset (cyclosporine) (placeholder figure)
• ↑ toward normal: TBUT recovery (placeholder figure)

Restoring the film

Placeholder: treatment rebuilds layer thickness and reduces inflammation.