During the past two decades a significant international research effort has been di rected
toward understanding the composition and regulation of the preocular tear film. This effort has
been motivated by the recognition that the tear film plays an essential role in maintaining
corneal and conjunctival integrity protecting against microbial challenge and preserving
visual acuity. In addition research has been stimulated by the knowledge that alteration or
deficiency of the tear film which occurs in countless individuals throughout the world may
lead to desiccation of the ocular surface ulceration and perfo ration of the cornea an
increased incidence of infectious disease and potentially pro nounced visual disability and
blindness. To promote further progress in this field of vision research the Second
International Conference on the Lacrimal Gland Tear Film and Dry Eye Syndromes: Basic Science
and Clinical Relevance was held at the Southampton Princess Resort in Bermuda November 16-19
1996. This conference was organized and directed by David A. Sullivan Ph. D. codirected by
Darlene A. Dartt Ph. D. and Michele A. Meneray Ph. D. and sponsored by the Schepens Eye
Research Institute (Boston MA) an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The meeting was
designed to assess critically the current knowledge and state of the art research on the
structure and function of lacrimal tissue tears and the ocular sur face in both health and
disease.
