The importance of fine dust for the development of an environmentally induced dry eye

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Environmental conditions promote dry eye by destruction of tear fluid and induction of cell damage. Fine dust is not only present in an urban polluted environment, but also in a cigarette fume or candle light dust loaded home environment. We wanted to determine, if fine dust affects the tear fluid components and conjunctival cells. Methods Human tear fluid from volunteers was obtained and incubated with fine dust suspensions. Possible tear protein changes were analysed by polyacrylamidegel‐electrophoresis (PAGE). Cultivated human conjunctival cells (CHANG‐cells) were incubated with fine dust suspensions as well as exposed to ultraviolet light (UV‐A). Cytomorphological changes and cell vitality were analysed via CASY1 Cell Counter and MTS‐assay. Results Fine dust suspensions destroy tear fluid proteins, particularly in combination with UV‐A‐light irradiation. Moreover, the incubation of human conjunctival cells with fine dust suspensions leads to a statistically significant decrease of cell vitality, depending on the fine dust concentration and incubation period. Additional UV‐A‐irradiation induces a further reduction of cell vitality. Conclusion Due to the alterations of human tear proteins and conjunctival cells caused by fine dust and exaggerated by UV‐A‐irradiation, fine dust can also be responsible for the development of an environmentally induced dry eye.