Histochemical Electron Microscopy of Conjunctival Surface in Dry Eye Syndrome

This study was performed to evaluate the histochemical changes of the conjunctival epithelial cell in eyes with dry eye syndrome. The authors selected 10 eyes clinically diagnosed as dry eye syndrome and 2 eyes which were enucleated due to choroidal melanoma as control group. The conjunctiva was stained with ruthenium red to enhance the detection of glycoprotein in conjunctival epithelium and observed by electron microscopy. The conjunctiva with dry eye syndrome showed the epithelial stratification, elon gation of the epithelial cells, reduction of microplicae in number, and irregular distribution of mucin. These results suggest that the mucin in the conjunctiva with dry eye syndrome may be abnormal in function and may lead to clumping.