Current Experimental Methods for Restoration of the Tear Film

Purpose: Tear film disorders, particularly dry eye disease (DED), are among the most common ocular surface conditions and arise from dysfunction of the lacrimal functional unit, including the lacrimal gland, meibomian glands, and conjunctival goblet cells.Despite the recent advancements in the management of the tear film disorders, the treatment still remains palliative. Hence there is a need for research focusing on regenerative approaches to restore the physiological functions and homeostasis of the tear film.Methods: A selective literature review was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline. The review is based on 127 relevant publications published up to January 2026, with emphasis on experimental and translational approaches for restoring tear film homeostasis. In addition, the latest advances in lacrimal gland regeneration are described, including recent studies conducted by our research group.Results: This review aims to first give an overview about the underlying diseases which alters the tear film composition, secondly highlighting the current treatment methods and their limitation and finally analyze recent experimental strategies that promotes tear film regeneration including stem cell-based therapies, tissue engineering of the lacrimal gland, neurotrophic factor supplementation, gene therapy, and biomaterial-assisted delivery systems.Conclusion: Regenerative approaches for tear film disorders are evolving from symptomatic management toward restoration of functional tissue. Although most strategies remain in preclinical or early translational stages, advances in stem cell biology, biomaterials, secretome research, and tissue engineering provide a promising foundation for future therapies targeting the lacrimal functional unit and long-term tear film homeostasis. By summarizing current findings and identifying research gaps, this review can highlight promising approaches for translational research and potential clinical applications.