Abstract
Good quality of tear film is essential for healthy vision in both animals and humans. Therefore, improving the quality of tears through the addition of electrolytes is important. To assess the effect of adding various electrolyte solutions on tear ferning (TF) patterns collected from goats and camels. Tear samples (20 ƒÊL) were collected from 5 goats (2 males and 3 females; 3.4 }1.6 years) and 5 camels (2 males and 3 females; 4.0 }1.1 years) using microcapillary tubes. A tear sample (0.5 ƒÊL) from each animal was mixed with various volumes (0.5.5 ƒÊL) of each electrolyte solution to produce homogenous mixtures. A sample (1 ƒÊL) of each mixture was dried on a microscopic glass at 22°C with a humidity .40%. The obtained TF pattern was observed, graded and compared with those obtained for the corresponding pure tear samples. The effect of dilution using purified water on the TF patterns of animals was also tested. The TF grades of animals were generally enhanced when mixed with electrolyte solutions. Specifically, the TF grade for tears collected from a goat was improved from 1.4 to 0.7 and to 0.8 when magnesium chloride hexahydrate and calcium chloride were added, respectively. Similarly, the TF grade for tears collected from a camel was improved from 1.8 to 0.9 and to 1.1, when calcium chloride and sodium dihydrogen phosphate solutions were added, respectively. The TF grades of tears collected from both goats and camels were improved after adding electrolyte solutions, and they were most remarkably improved when divalent electrolyte solutions were added, followed by the hydrogenated electrolyte.
Highlights
Good quality of tear film is essential for healthy vision in both animals and humans
The tear ferning (TF) grades of animals were generally enhanced when mixed with electrolyte solutions
The TF grades of tears collected from both goats and camels were improved after adding electrolyte solutions, and they were most remarkably improved when divalent electrolyte solutions were added, followed by the hydrogenated electrolyte
Summary
Good quality of tear film is essential for healthy vision in both animals and humans. Tear film lubricates the eye surface, transports oxygen and nutrients to the cornea, and washes away foreign bodies and waste.[1] It protects the ocular surface against infections, high temperature and chemicals, facilitates eyelid movement, and makes the reflection of the corneal surface smooth.[1] The tear film structure is very complex, but can be simplified as a three-layer model.[2] a different model structure has been suggested for the tear film It includes a mixture of inner aqueous phase containing hydrophilic mucins, electrolytes and large molecules, such as enzymes and lipids as the outermost layer.[3,4] Mucins mix well with aqueous contents and spread over the ocular surface. The disturbance in lacrimal and meibomian glands functions induces tear film abnormality and dry eye disorder.[7]
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