Using the autoimmune-regulator knock out (Aire KO) mouse model to mimic many of the pathological features of dry eye (9), we have discovered that simply lubricating the ocular surface induces the generation of a heterogeneous pool of reparative keratocytes, transitioning them from inflammatory to reparative cells to drive stromal repair. This evidence concerns the gene AIRE and Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.