Homeostasis and Defense at the Surface of the Eye. The Conjunctival Microbiota

Curr Eye Res. 2021 Jan;46(1):1-6. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2020.1788100. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Abstract

The literature on ocular microbiome has grown tremendously over the past decade, and our knowledge of the different aspects and roles in homeostasis and protection is continuously growing. The development of 16 S rRNA sequencing has allowed the field to characterize communities of bacteria in health and ocular disease. Efforts should continue to further elucidate the interplay between microbiome and key players, such as age, comorbidities, and contact lens usage in order to have better control of the sight-threatening complications.

Keywords: Microbiota; conjunctiva; contact lens; ocular surface.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology
  • Bacteria / genetics*
  • Conjunctiva / microbiology*
  • Contact Lenses
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / microbiology*
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Microbiota / immunology*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA