Conjunctival Permeability and Ultrastructure

The conjunctiva, a mucin-secreting epithelium that covers most of the ocular surface as well as the inner surface of the eyelids, can be adversely affected by many disease processes. It is susceptible to infection and inflammation in response to pathogens and allergens. Conjunctival irritation is also a hallmark of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, with increasing mucin deficiency due to goblet cell loss as the disease progresses. In ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, autoimmunity results in severe conjunctival disease with conjunctival scarring and forniceal shortening.