Why won't my tears stay put?
The invisible mucin layer, and how surface inflammation strips it away.
- 01Dry eyes? It's not just a lack of water
- 02Meibomian glands: your eyes' oil factories
- 03Why won't my tears stay put?
- 04Why does dry eye keep coming back?
- 05Health conditions that can dry your eyes
- 06Everyday habits that quietly feed dry eye
- 07“It's just dry eyes”? It's not that simple
- 08Managing dry eye: from home to clinic
- 09In-clinic treatment: IPL, RF & expression
Mucin: what makes tears stick to the eye
Part 03 · 01The cell surface naturally repels water
Without mucin, tears struggle to cling on.
Two kinds of mucin work together
The surface glycocalyx, plus gel mucin from goblet cells.
The surface becomes ‘water-loving’
So tears can spread evenly and stay longer.
Inflammation strips away the foundation
Part 03 · 02Fewer goblet cells
Chronic inflammation reduces goblet cell numbers.
A damaged glycocalyx
The surface loses its water-loving coating.
Tears bead up and slide off
Like water on a freshly waxed car: the film breaks faster.
From an ‘oil’ problem to a ‘stick’ problem
Part 03 · 03Inflammation damages the glands too. Chronic inflammation further degrades the oil, creating a vicious cycle (part 4).
Key takeaways
Part 03- 01Mucin turns a water-repelling surface into a water-loving one
- 02Inflammation reduces goblet cells and damages the glycocalyx
- 03Long-standing oil problems can erode the eye's ability to hold tears
Book an eye surface assessment.
Eyes that often feel dry or gritty, or vision that comes and goes? Find out which type you have and what’s driving it.
General health information only, not personal advice. Everyone’s eyes are different. An optometrist or doctor should examine you before any treatment is decided.