Consensus standardizes tear fluid terminology for research and clinical use

An international Delphi study by the Tear Research Network has established standardized definitions for tear-related terminology to improve consistency in ocular research.

A total of 103 international experts participated in two survey rounds, achieving consensus (≥70% agreement) on terms related to localization, source, function, and sample collection. The strongest agreement (>90%) was reached for “tear fluid” and “tear film.” “Tear fluid” refers to the biological fluid and collected sample, while “tear film” describes the multilayered structure on the ocular surface.

These recommendations aim to improve data comparability, reporting consistency, and interdisciplinary communication in future research.

Reference
Schmeetz J, Agrawal R, Cifuentes-González C, et al; Tear Research Network Terminology Taskforce; Bonnet C, Gijs M. Consensus recommendations on tear fluid terminology: A Delphi study by the tear research network. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2026;49(3):102646. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2026.102646. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41865601.