A model tear film lipid layer composed of a binary mixture of cholesteryl myristate (CM) and 1,2-dipalmitoylsn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) was characterized using surface tension measurements, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) and interfacial stress rheology (ISR). Isotherms showed that films containing >= 90 mol % CM have a 17-fold greater % area loss between the first and second compressions than the films with less CM. BAM images clearly showed that CM films did not expand after compression, and solid-like regions extending 1-2 turn were observed at low pressures (1 mN/m). Lipid films with >= 70 mol % CM expanded after compression in BAM indicating that the films were primarily fluid. ISR data confirmed these results, as DPPC and 30:70 CM/DPPC films were fluid at all pressures and more compliant than films with higher CM content. Films with >= 50 mol % CM became elastic at higher surface pressures. Increasing CM content reduced the surface pressure at which the mixed film became elastic. Lysozyme adsorption into a CM film increased the compressibility and resulted in a more expanded film. Lysozyme increased the ductility of the CM/DPPC films with no film breakdown occurring up to the highest pressure measured (40 mN/m). In summary, CM increased the elasticity of the lipid films, but also caused them to become brittle and incapable of expansion following compression. Lysozyme adsorption increased the ductility and decreased the isotherm hysteresis for CM/DPPC films.