Ocular surface microbiome

A diagram of the human eye.

The ocular surface microbiome or ocular microbiome refers to the microbiota, including bacteria and fungi, that live on the eye, mainly the conjunctiva and cornea. Flora found on the eyelid and eyelashes are considered to be part of the skin microbiome, although some bacteria are shared across regions. Compared to other human microbiomes, the ocular surface microbiome is sparsely populated and with a low diversity, with approximately one bacterium per 20 recovered epithelial cells. This may be due to the antimicrobial properties of enzymes found in tears, which break down cell walls and prevent bacteria from reproducing.

Some microbes found on the ocular surface have been associated with keratitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, trachoma, contact lens-induced dysbiosis, Sjorgen's syndrome, dry eye disease, blepharitis, diabetes-induced dysbiosis and retinopathy. Extended use of contact lenses leads to an increased risk of ocular infections.

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