Authors:Fan Xuesi, Yang Ji, Zhang Qiong, Liu Hai
Corresponding author: Liu Hai, Email:herryhai@ynu.edu.cn
Published:2026-10-10
DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn115989-20260310-00113
ABSTRACT
Dry eye disease is a prevalent chronic ocular surface disorder, the onset and progression of which are closely associated with various environmental factors. With the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, the impact of outdoor environmental pollutants on ocular surface health has garnered increasing attention. Current research indicates that diverse pollutants can disrupt ocular surface homeostasis through multiple pathways, including oxidative stress induction, inflammatory responses, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and immune reactions, ultimately leading to decreased tear film stability and corneal epithelial injury, thereby triggering or exacerbating dry eye disease. In recent years, intervention strategies targeting oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, such as antioxidants, natural bioactive compounds, and targeted signaling pathway modulation, have demonstrated potential applications in the prevention and treatment of pollutant-associated dry eye. This article summarizes the molecular mechanisms by which common outdoor pollutants contribute to dry eye, and emphasis is placed on elucidating the mechanisms underlying ocular surface damage induced by particulate matter, gaseous pollutants (such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds), heavy metals, and emerging contaminants (such as microplastics), aiming to offer insights for further elucidating the mechanisms by which environmental pollutants contribute to dry eye pathogenesis and exploring novel therapeutic strategies.
KEYWORDS：
Dry eye disease;Air pollution;Particulate matter;Oxidative stress;Inflammation
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Authors Info & Affiliations
Fan Xuesi
Graduate School of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
Ophthalmology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming 650021, China
Yang Ji
Ophthalmology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming 650021, China
Zhang Qiong
Ophthalmology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming 650021, China
Liu Hai
Graduate School of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
Ophthalmology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming 650021, China
Figures & Tables
Figure 1 Molecular mechanisms by which common outdoor pollutants induce dry eye PM 2.5: particulate matter 2.5; ROS: reactive oxygen species; NF-κB: nuclear factor-kappa B
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