Mucins and Ocular Signs in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Contact Lens Wear

Abstract

Symptomatic contact lens wearers exhibit significantly more LWE and LIPCOF, and decreased MUC5AC reactivity. LWE and LIPCOF are significantly correlated; this may reflect their common frictional origin. Increased friction might follow from insufficient mucins, or an altered composition of the resident mucins at the ocular surface. In this study, we show that decreased mucin production is associated with the severity of LWE and LIPCOF.