Abstract: The invention relates to a composition containing, as active ingredient, ectoine, hydroxyectoine and/or salts, esters or amides of these compounds for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases of the eye that are associated with a disturbance of the tear film. The disease can be in particular a keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It has been found that, surprisingly, these compounds are capable of preventing a rupture in the outer lipid layer of the tear film, avoiding an undesirably rapid evaporation of the lacrimal fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition containing, as active ingredient, ectoine, hydroxyectoine and/or salts, esters or amides of these compounds for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases of the eye that are associated with a disturbance of the tear film. The disease can be in particular a keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It has been found that, surprisingly, these compounds are capable of preventing a rupture in the outer lipid layer of the tear film, avoiding an undesirably rapid evaporation of the lacrimal fluid.

Abstract: The new membrane biosensors consist of a solid A as a support, a lipid bilayer B as a membrane, spacers C incorporated between A and B and a receptor D embedded in the lipid bilayer. The new membrane biosensors are characterized in particular by their spacer C, which consists of a molecule of ethanolamine which forms an ester bond to the phosphatide group of the lipid bilayer B, an oligopeptide in helical or pleated sheet structure formed from 4-20 C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 -.alpha.-amino acids and a reactive group which enters into a chemical or physicochemical bond with the support A.