5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  The mucin component of the tear film is crucial for ocular surface health but lacks sufficient pharmaceutical options.

• 2

  Damage to conjunctival goblet cells can lead to altered mucus structure and contribute to dry eye disease.

• 3

  Mucin deficiency can be addressed with secretagogues, though current topical options are unavailable in the U.S.

• 4

  Compounded N-acetylcysteine shows promise for treating excessive poor-quality mucins in ocular surface disease.

• 5

  Advancements in understanding mucins may lead to new therapeutic options for improving mucin quality and quantity.