Comprehensive Experimental Analysis of Tear Fluid Composition and Structure by Using Novel Physical Methods with Diagnostic Potential for Inflammatory Diseases

This study explored the use of physical methods, namely X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, to analyze the structure and composition of tear fluid desiccates. Tear samples were collected from patients with dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, and multiple sclerosis. Our results revealed significant differences in the crystallization patterns, chemical composition, and morphology of tear fluid among the disease groups compared to healthy individuals. XRD analysis identified variations in salt crystallization within tear fluid desiccates. AFM provided nanoscale morphological visualization. EDX determined the presence of key chemical elements. Our findings showed that changes in crystallization and unbalance of ionic composition in tear fluid may serve as potential markers for diagnosing ocular diseases. This study highlights the potential of these techniques for non-invasive diagnostics and contributes to the development of innovative strategies for monitoring structural properties in tear fluid desiccates of analyzed inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases.