ɪɾ ˈækts æz ɐ bˈæɹiɚ tə pɹətˈɛkt ðə kˈɔːɹniə, ɹᵻzˈɪstɪŋ ðə fɹˈiː flˈoʊ ʌv flˈuːɪdz fɹʌmðə tˈɪɹz, ænd pɹɪvˈɛnts bæktˈɪɹiə fɹʌm ˈɛntɚɹɪŋ ðɪ ˌɛpɪθˈiːliəm ænd kˈɔːɹniəl stɹˈoʊmə.
It acts as a barrier to protect the cornea, resisting the free flow of fluids from the tears, and prevents bacteria from entering the epithelium and corneal stroma.