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New research · Ophthalmology
Orbit (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2d
StudyOrbit (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2026

Study of the toxic effect of benzalkonium chloride on epithelial cells of the lacrimal canaliculi.

Anastasia M Subbot, Eugenia L Atkova, Anna D Panova, Vasily D Yartsev
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OphthalmologyStudy

Benzalkonium chloride's half-lethal dose for tear-duct lining cells was 21.02 µg/mL

Study of the toxic effect of benzalkonium chloride on epithelial cells of the lacrimal canaliculi.

Anastasia M Subbot … Vasily D Yartsev
Orbit (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2026
Purpose

The study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect of benzalkonium chloride on human lacrimal canalicular epithelial cells under both constant and dynamically decreasing concentrations, which more accurately reflects real ocular surface conditions after eye drop instillation.

Methods

This in vitro study was conducted at the Krasnov Research Institute of Eye Diseases.

Results
21.02 µg/mL
less benzalkonium chloride-killed tear-duct cells with gradual dilution than constant exposure
More results

When dynamically decreasing concentrations were used (mimicking physiological dilution), the cytotoxic effect was significantly reduced compared to constant concentration exposure at equivalent time points ( p < 0.05, two-way ANOVA).

“
Conclusion · 1 of 2

The dynamically decreasing concentration model, which better reflects in vivo conditions, demonstrates that physiological dilution of benzalkonium chloride in tear fluid significantly reduces its cytotoxic effect on lacrimal canalicular cells undergoing partial EMT.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings support the hypothesis that dry eye syndrome and impaired tear drainage - conditions that prolong benzalkonium chloride exposure and may promote EMT - increase the risk of secondary lacrimal drainage obstruction in patients receiving long-term benzalkonium chloride-preserved therapy.

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