Mucin ball formation not tied to pearling, study finds

Collapsed mucin is most likely responsible for mucin ball formation on silicone hydrogel contact lenses, according to a study. Mucin ball formation is unlikely to have been formed as a result of pearling around a silicon, lipid or bacterial kernel, the study authors concluded.

Thomas J. Millar, PhD, and colleagues with the Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology in Sydney, Australia, examined tears that contained mucin balls from silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers to try to determine their nature. PAS reaction was positive, indicating that glycoproteins form a major component. Lipids and bacteria were not detected via scanning electron microscopy or electron microscopic elemental analysis. Scanning electron microscopy did not show the surface to be smooth but revealed a variation in density across the surface. Elemental analysis was inconclusive, the authors said.

The study is published in Cornea.