The pilot scientific and artistic project of the “Human tear as art”

    There was ceremonial opening of the exhibition “Human tear as art” on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, where the authors presented interesting photographic images of the tear liquid of patients with different diseases in comparison with healthy individuals. These impressive results of interesting photographic images were obtained by using an atomic force microscope.
    The exhibition “Human tear as art” in the building Bravo, Kulturpark was opened on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 and will last till February 17, 2019. These impressive results of their scientific work are being presented to the public by the authors.
    Twenty seven pictures presented to the public is a result of the cooperation of the eye physician MUDr. Gabriel Glinská and three research teams associated with Assoc. prof. Vladimír Tomečková, PhD. from the Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry of the Medical Faculty of UPJŠ in Košice, Mgr. Vladimír Komanický, PhD. from the Institute of Physical Sciences of the Faculty of Science, UPJŠ and RNDr. Natália Tomašovičová, CSc. from the Institute of Experimental Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The pilot scientific and artistic project show the results of their many years research and the diagnostic potential of the original images of the human tear fluid of patients with various illnesses. Tears of patients with various diagnoses are different in their structure from the tears of healthy individuals. Scientists have seen very interesting patterns in them.
    The opening ceremony of the exhibition included a presentation of a short film with music and unique images of tear fluid of patients with various ocular and systemic diseases associated with the short lecture of the exhibition organizer and co-author of the project doc. RNDr. Vladimír Tomečková, PhD. from the Faculty of Medicine, UPJŠ. The artistic enrichment of the opening cremeny was a short preview of the theatrical performance The Little Prince by actors from ANIMA MEA art club, reminding the Saint-Exupéry’s idea that the most important thing is the invisible eye. In the case of tears, this does not apply – as it was shown, tear fluid reveal not only diseases but also emotions.
    “People can express different emotions with tears, but we have convinced that tears can even reveal the presence of various diseases. It’s incredible, but every tear is unique in its structure. We have investigated about 60 samples of tear fluid, collected from patients with various eye diseases of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye, such as dry eyes, cataracts, various types of glaucoma and other eye diseases, as well as systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis and others” says Assoc. prof. Vladimíra Tomeckova, PhD.
    As noted by the Vice-Rector of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice and the head of the Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry UPJŠ LF prof. Ing. Mária Mareková, CSc., The first results of the microscopic observation of the tear fluid was very interesting and the successful cooperation of the Faculty of Medicine with the Faculty of Natural Sciences UPJŠ and the Slovak Academy of Sciences will continue. “I believe that it will bring not only other artistic images attractive to the public, but also new scientific knowledge that will enrich our knowledge,” she said.

---