Contents


Preface

Dry eye syndrome, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), is a disorder of

The investigation on the composition and regulatory mechanisms of the preocular tear film was a milestone in scientific research about dry eye syndrome: the tear film, in fact, plays a key role in maintaining the corneal and conjunctival integrity, in protecting the eyes against infections, and, ultimately, in preserving visual acuity. Potential modification in the composition or structure of a tear film can have devastating effects, such as desiccation of the ocular surface and ulceration and perforation of the cornea; it is therefore not surprising that patients with dry eye syndrome are prone to potentially blinding infections, such as bacterial keratitis. Previous research works report an increased risk of complications in even common procedures (e.g., laser refractive surgery) in patients with dry eye

Advances in dry eye syndrome research gave us a lot of hope in treating such a disease: today, in fact, we can get benefit from recent scientific discoveries to design more accurate diagnostic procedures as well as more advanced devices and effective

This book aims at illustrating the most recent research advances in the diagnosis as well as in the therapeutic strategies of dry eye. The book consists of seven chapters that cover a large spectrum of topics that can be of interest to professional ophthalmologists as well as students. Book chapters are from research groups located worldwide, thus highlighting the huge impact of dry eye syndrome on the field of ophthalmology and, perhaps, on many other medical disciplines to date. Each chapter has been carefully revised not only for scientific correctness but also for clarity: in this way, the proposed material is, in our opinion, accessible to a large, nonspecialist, audience, and thus, it can be regarded as a good entry point to the

In the first section, the chapters describe the most recent diagnostic technique we

Chapter 1 entitled *Examination for Dry Eyes* extensively reviews dry eye diagnostic procedures. Ideally, all of the available tests could be performed at a single visit,

the tear film caused by either tear deficiency or excessive tear evaporation.

In the latest decades, we gained a better and better understanding of dry eye syndrome. Early theories assumed that the syndrome was a mere consequence of aqueous tear insufficiency; today, it is classified as a multifactorial disorder caused by inflammation of the ocular surface and lacrimal glands, neurotrophic deficiency,

and meibomian gland dysfunction.

syndrome.

medical treatments.

can rely on today.

fascinating topic of dry eye syndrome.

The book is divided into two main sections
