Conjunctival Cytokine Expression in Symptomatic Moderate Dry Eye Subjects

Abstract

The lack of major differences in ocular surface cytokine expression between the two groups of subjects implies other inflammatory pathways or etiologies are involved in moderate dry eye. Although IL-1beta modulated the expression of various cytokines in cultured CECs, its absence in tear fluid and CIC samples suggests that IL-1beta does not play a modulatory role in moderate dry eye.