Estimating the Osmolarities of Tears During Evaporation Through the 'Eyes'' of the Corneal Nerves

摘要

PURPOSE. A population of corneal neurons in rats preferentially sense and monitor the hyperosmolar conditions of tears when the tears begin to evaporate during corneal dryness. The present study exploited this ability in an effort to estimate tear osmolarities by comparing the responses to corneal dryness to their responses to hyperosmolar stimuli.