Detection of Mucin Deposits on Hydrogel Contact Lenses: Evaluation of Staining Procedures and Clinical Significance

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Abstract
Histochemical staining procedures, including the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction, Alcian blue stain, and the colloidal iron stain (Muller's reagent), were investigated for their potential to identify mucin deposits on worn hydrogel contact lenses. The colloidal iron and Alcian blue stains gave positive results with worn lenses without apparent interference and indicated that the mucin deposits were principally complex carbohydrates with free acidic groups. On one heavily deposited lens, mucins were identified using the colloidal iron stain and were confirmed as a foundation layer under a proteinaceous layer on the anterior lens surface by treating the lens with a protease cleaning tablet and then repeating the staining procedure. The application of lens staining procedures to clinical diagnosis of mucin deficiency in the precorneal tear film is discussed.

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