Distribution of tetracycline in the conjunctiva of patients on long term systemic doses.

After oral administration of tetracycline fluorescence has been detected in biopsy specimens taken from human and animal conjunctiva. The fluorescence is not uniform but appears to be concentrated in the goblet cells, around the blood vessels, and in a thin film on the external surface of the epithelium. Immersion studies suggest there is a selective binding to the surface of the conjunctiva.