Exploring the Gut-Eye Axis: Microbial Dysbiosis in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

To investigates the gut microbiota in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) compared with normal subjects.

A case-control study was conducted involving 32 patients with VKC and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Fecal samples were collected and analyzed using quantitative PCR to measure the abundance of 5 bacterial groups: Prevotella, Firmicutes, Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides. In addition, clinical severity scores for VKC symptoms and signs were recorded and analyzed.

Patients with VKC exhibited significant microbial dysbiosis compared with controls, including an upregulation of Prevotella (mean fold change 21.579; P <0.001) and downregulation of Firmicutes, Faecalibacterium, and Bifidobacterium (P < 0.01 for all). No significant correlations were observed between microbial levels and clinical severity scores.

The study identifies significant gut microbial imbalances in patients with VKC, suggesting that dysbiosis may play a role in the disease. Microbiota-targeted interventions, such as probiotics and dietary modifications, may offer novel strategies for managing VKC.