Introduction Opticin is a member of the extracellular matrix small leucine-rich repeat (SLRP) proteoglycan/protein family, which was originally identified in the eye associated with the collagen fibrils of the vitreous humour. A putative heparin/heparan sulfate (HS) binding motif (RKERKRR) was identified at the N-terminus of human opticin, but this is absent in the bovine form. Furthermore, the strength of attachment between the vitreous and the retina was observed to be species-dependent and related to the presence or absence of this motif. We hypothesized that opticin cross-links the collagen fibrils of the vitreous to HS proteoglycans in the inner limiting lamina (a basement membrane on the inner surface of the retina), contributing towards vitreoretinal adhesion. Materials and methods Recombinant human and bovine opticin were expressed in 293-EBNA cells and purified to apparent homogeneity. Solid phase assays and surface plasmon resonance studies were used to characterize interactions between immobilized heparin/HS and opticin. Results Solid phase and BIAcore data revealed that human opticin binds heparin/HS and binds to heparin with a dissociation constant of approximately 20 nm. By contrast bovine opticin, which lacks the basic cluster, bound severalfold less tightly. Competition studies with heparin oligosaccharides indicated that the heparin/HS binding site is greater than 6 monosaccharides in length. Heparin, HS, chondroitin sulfate A (CS-A), dermatan sulfate and hyaluronan all competed with heparin for binding to human opticin but CS-C did not. Discussion Work to date suggests that the N-terminal sequence RKERKRR contributes significantly to the binding of opticin to heparin/HS. Vitreoretinal adhesion plays a key role in a number of eye diseases and inhibitors of the opticin–HS interaction could be of therapeutic value.