Abstract: Dry eye is the most common ocular surface disease; however, its pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, the establishment of a dry eye model is particularly important for research into the conditions origins and its possible treatments. The current models used to establish tear deficiency either make use of an autoimmune reaction, involve the removal of the lacrimal gland(i.e., extirpation)or blockage of the lacrimal nerve, or use drugs that inhibit parasympathetic activity. Other methods of inducing dry eye involve burning the meibomian gland, decreasing the blink rate, reducing vitamin A intake, using preservatives, changing sex hormone levels, increasing tear osmolality, or carefully controlling the system environment. Meanwhile, some researchers combine the aforementioned models to produce dry eye, including combining parasympathetic inhibitory drugs with a controlled environmental system or using preservatives following removal of the lacrimal gland. In this article, we summarize the commonly used dry eye models.

Key words: Animal model, Tear deficiency, Dry eye, Evaporative