Wettability of the corneal surface: a reappraisal

Previous attempts by others to measure the wettability of the corneal epithelium concluded that the surface was strongly hydrophobic, but used methods which seem likely to damage the epithelial cell surface. These experimental techniques were repeated and the effects on the surface analysed by scanning electron microscopy. It is concluded that such methods cannot establish either the hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of the cornea.