[Histological studies of goblet cell counts in human conjunctiva (author's transl)]

In 121 healthy subjects of all age groups the goblet cells were counted by means of conjunctival biopsies; none of these individuals showed any inflammatory or degenerative changes in their eye lids, conjunctivae or corneas. Three groups were distinguished: a small group with relatively few, a large group with an average number and a third small groups with a relatively large number of goblet cells. The number of goblet cells was usually between 26 and 40 to the square mm, but fluctuated to a great extent in all three groups. On determining age distribution, the average goblet cell counts were found to be astonishingly similar: they did not vary significantly in the different age groups. At most, one could say the goblet cell count is slightly lower from age 61 onward.