United States – Dry eye patients can have problems with bacteria all over their eye surfaces, which is an alarming result of the research.
Eye Microbiome Discrepancies Detected
It was discovered that some species are notably absent from the microbiome of dye eye patients, while others are unusually present compared to individuals with normal eyes, as reported by HealthDay.
“Once we understand the eye microbiota properly, it will improve disease diagnosis at an early stage,” said lead researcher Alexandra Van Kley, a professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Streptococcus and Pedobacter Common in Healthy Eyes
Research showed that Streptococcus and Pedobacter species of bacteria were the most common ones found in healthy people.
Moreover, different kinds of Acinetobacter were found in patients who had dry eyes.
Acinetobacter Variants Linked to Dry Eyes
“We think the metabolites produced by these bacteria are responsible for dry eye conditions,” researcher Pallavi Sharma, a graduate student in Van Kley’s lab, said in a university news release. “We are performing further research to understand the metabolic pathways associated with the Acinetobacter to better understand the disease.”
For the study, scientists collected swab samples from the eyes of thirty patients and then carried out genetic analysis to determine each person’s eye microbiome.
Gut Microbiome Connection Explored
Sharma said researchers not only think that there is a strong relationship between the gut microbiota and bacteria of the eyes but also assume that it is.
“Any alteration in the gut microbiome affects other organs and can lead to disease,” Sharma said. “Therefore, we are trying to identify patterns of an imbalance between the types of microbes present in a person’s ocular microbiome for people with different health problems.”
Researchers’ next step is to study whether the gut microbiome of patients with dry eyes is related to the bacteria in the human eye, as reported by HealthDay.
The experimental group reported the results of their research Tuesday at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s annual meeting, which was held in San Antonio, Texas. Scientific study sessions and scientific meetings should be valued as still in progress, underlining the subsequent need for journal review and editing.