The Art of Moisturization: Human Tears!

Novel technique unveils complex behaviors of micron-sized particles in both real and artificial tears, highlighting the intricate nature of human tears.

Exploring the intricate behavior of micron-sized particles in real and artificial tears uncovers the unique complexity and moisturizing abilities of human tears that are difficult to reproduce with simpler formulations.

In Physics of Fluids, from AIP Publishing, Vega et al. researched human tears at the micron level to reveal new ways of customizing artificial tears to address individual symptoms of dry eye disease (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Shedding light on the viscoelastic behavior of artificial and human tears: A microrheological approach

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Blocked Tear Duct - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
An obstruction in the tear drainage system is known as dacryostenosis. This is a common condition in infants. Adults can get a blocked tear duct due to infection, inflammation, eye injury or a tumor.

‘In-depth analysis reveals the intricate dynamics of micron-sized particles in real and artificial tears, emphasizing the challenge of replicating the complex composition and moisturizing properties found in human tears. # Tears, #Eyes, #Artificial Tears ’

The detailed insights they gained about the composition and behavior of tears could also apply to the study of ocular pathogens, as well as other biological fluids.

The Liquid Enigma

“Tailoring formulations and characteristics to meet individual requirements are key considerations in achieving efficacy,” author Juan F. Vega said. “The ultimate goal is to provide an effective and personalized solution that alleviates dry eye syndrome.”

The authors collected healthy human tears and tested 10 different formulations of artificial tears, probing these liquids to understand properties such as viscosity (flow), elasticity and stability, and the effects of different concentrations of components in the liquids. They also tested the behavior of the liquids under stress, such as when the eye blinks.

To study the tiny volumes of liquid in tears, the authors applied microrheology methods, which monitor the movement of micron-sized particles in liquids, using a technique that measures how light reflects off particles suspended in liquid to reveal how the liquid behaves in different scenarios, known as dynamic light scattering, or DLS.

The authors’ unique application of these methods to the study of tears has implications both for the fundamental knowledge of microbiological fluids and for the design of functional materials with specific desired properties, Vega said.

Intricacies of Micron-Sized Particles in Tears

“The goal of investigating these characteristics is to understand the behavior of the fluid and gain insights into its performance and potential applications – for example, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or food – where understanding the viscoelastic properties helps in formulating products with desirable textures, stability, and flow behavior,” Vega said.

The authors plan to continue to explore more complex formulations of artificial tears and extend their work to the study of human tears with different pathologies.

Watery-Eyes - Causes - Symptoms - Signs - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Excess tearing may cause a sensation of watery eyes or result in tears falling down the cheek. Obstruction of tear drainage path can lead to stasis and is also a reason for watery eyes.

“Through careful tuning, artificial tears can be tailored to meet specific needs, such as stability, lubrication, and moisturization, and mimicking natural tears,” Vega said. “Ultimately, this work aims to enhance the comfort and well-being of individuals experiencing dry eye symptoms.”

Reference:

Shedding light on the viscoelastic behavior of artificial and human tears: A microrheological approach - (https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pof/article/35/7/072008/2901647/Shedding-light-on-the-viscoelastic-behavior-of)

Source-Eurekalert