The ocular microbiome and its impact on eye health. Implications for dry eye and other eye conditions

The human body is home to a complex ecosystem of microorganisms known as the microbiome, which influence our health in numerous ways. While the gut microbiome has received significant attention for its role in digestion and overall health, new research is turning attention to the microbiome of other parts of the body, including the eyes.

Researchers at Stephen F. Austin State University found that the eye microbiome, which includes microbes from different parts of the body, differs in the mix of microbes between healthy eyes and those with dry eye.

This discovery could potentially improve treatments for dry eye and other eye conditions. The microbiome, which affects up to 50% of the world’s population, is a key focus of researchers studying the role of the eye microbiome in eye diseases, including dry eye.

The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, reveals that the ocular microbiome of healthy eyes and those with dry eye differ in their mix of microbes.

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What is the eye microbiome?

The ocular microbiome is a community of bacteria and microorganisms found on the conjunctiva and cornea of ​​the eye. When dysbiosis occurs in the gut microbiome, pathogenic microbes and their metabolites are transported through the bloodstream and reach other places in the human body, such as the eye, according to MedicalNewsToday.

Dr. Alexandra Martynova-Van Kley, professor of biology at Stephen F. Austin State University, suggests that the microbes identified in the eye microbiome may be similar to the gut microbiome. The ocular microbiome has been studied for its impact on other eye diseases, including dry eye, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts.

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Acinetobacter present in the dry eye microbiome

A study by Dr. Alexandra Martynova-Van Kley and her team analyzed the ocular microbiomes of 30 volunteers with dry eye compared to healthy eyes. They found that Streptococcus and Pedobacter were the dominant bacterial species in healthy eyes, while Acinetobacter was predominant in participants with dry eye.

This finding is surprising because other eye diseases, such as hypertension and high cholesterol, have a wealth of species that are closely related. Understanding the causes of dry eye is crucial to improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

The study’s findings may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches and better outcomes for people suffering from the condition. The next steps will be to increase the sample size and understand the signaling pathways associated with indicator species in dry eye conditions to gain insight into the metabolites responsible for the disease.

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Research supporting past results

Dr. David Geffen, director of optometric and refractive services at the Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute, believes that altering the eye’s microbiome could be a breakthrough in treating dry eye. Dr. Geffen believes this approach could be the answer for millions of sufferers and expects more researchers to explore this approach and combine it with the use of drugs.

Dr. Benjamin Bert, a board-certified ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center, supports the research, saying it supports the multifactorial effects of dry eye and the need for further research.

Experts predict future research on the eye microbiome for various eye conditions, including dry eye. Research on the eye microbiome is emerging rapidly and will help to better understand the gut-eye axis. Dr. Martynova-Van Kley believes this research is just the beginning of this type of research.

More studies will focus on other types of changes that may occur in the microbiome on the surface of the eye, especially for patients with various conditions and frequent eye drops. More research in this area is expected to emerge.

As the field of microbiome research continues to expand, particularly in the field of eye health, we are on the cusp of transformative discoveries. Insights gained from studying the eye microbiome not only offer hope for improving treatments for conditions such as dry eye, but also pave the way for understanding a wider range of eye diseases.

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