Abstract: Ocular surface mucins are a group of large and complex heavily glycosylated proteins, that cover all the surface of ocular. They can be divided into secretory mucins and membrane-associated mucins, which play a key role to lubricate and maintain integrity of the ocular surface. Ocular surface mucins are closely related to ocular surface diseases, including dry eye, infection, allergy and immune diseases. Mucins can connect water into glue, prevent the evaporation of tear. They also interact with a variety of inflammatory factors and play an important role in maintaining the epithelial cell barrier of the ocular surface. In addition, mucins can also participate in intracellular signal transduction and play an anti-infection role. To date, many medicines have been observed as secretagogues of mucins, such as diquafosol sodium, rebamipide, nerve growth factor and thymosin, etc. The emergence of these drugs has brought more therapeutic targets for many ocular surface diseases such as dry eye. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2021, 45: 540-545)

Key words: ocular surface disease, mucin