The present invention provides compositions and methods for identifying subjects suffering from dry eye that can be treated by topical administration of a composition comprising lacritin or a bioactive fragment thereof. The application discloses in part that a 90 KDa deglycanated form of syndecan-1 is abundant in tears of normal individuals but not individuals suffering from dry eye, whereas a 25 kDa syndecan-1 fragment is detectable in dry, but not normal tears.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for identifying subjects suffering from dry eye that can be treated by topical administration of a composition comprising lacritin or a bioactive fragment thereof. The application discloses in part that a 90 KDa deglycanated form of syndecan-1 is abundant in tears of normal individuals but not individuals suffering from dry eye, whereas a 25 kDa syndecan-1 fragment is detectable in dry, but no normal tears.

A method for changing a condition of an eyelid of a hairless animal, a model animal for evaluating a therapeutic or prophylactic effect against an eyelid disease obtained by the method, a method for producing the model animal, a method of screening using the model animal and a substance having a therapeutic or prophylactic effect against an eyelid disease selected by the method of screening, and a therapeutic or prophylactic agent against an eyelid disease containing the substance as an active ingredient.