Ocular surface wetness is regulated by TRPM8-dependent cold thermoreceptors of the cornea

Dry mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes and mouth, are a major clinical problem, particularly in the elderly or in individuals taking certain medications. Now, Carlos Belmonte and his colleagues show that cooling of the eye, caused by surface evaporation during eye opening, can induce tearing by stimulating TRPM8-expressing cold-sensing nerve endings.