Measurement of wettability of the corneal epithelium

Abstract

Surface wettability of the adult rabbit cornea, as indicated by the epithelium/air surface tension, was estimated from the attachment of particles of several different types from suspension in dimethyl sulphoxidesaline bathing solutions. The mean surface tension of corneas where mucus had been removed by rinsing with N-acetyl cysteine was 67.5 .+-. 0.6 mN/m, and for corneas retaining their native covering of mucus was 68.3 .+-. 0.8 mN/m. Thus the wettability of the normal cornea does not depend on the presence of mucus to overcome its previously-supposed hydrophobicity. Removal of mucus by wiping gave a damaged surface for which no surface tension could be determine within range of solution surface tensions studied.