Research comparing the eye microbiotas of healthy individuals and those with dry eye disease (DED) has highlighted the potential roles of three bacterial species. Streptococcus and Pedobacter species were the most prevalent microbes in healthy eyes, while more Acinetobacter species were present in the eyes of people with DED, said researchers at Stephen F Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.  

The metabolites produced by these bacteria are thought to be responsible for causing DED symptoms, explained graduate researcher Pallavi Sharma. “We are performing further research to understand the metabolic pathways associated with the Acinetobacter to better understand the disease.” 

Sharma said the team also intends to explore the gut microbiomes of DED patients to better understand how they relate to the eye microbe differences they observed.