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Review
. 2021 Dec;53(1):750-761.
doi: 10.1080/07853890.2021.1925150.

Influence of gut microbiota on eye diseases: an overview

Pasquale Napolitano  1 , Mariaelena Filippelli  1 , Sergio Davinelli  1 , Silvia Bartollino  1 , Roberto dell'Omo  1 , Ciro Costagliola  1
Affiliations
Review

Influence of gut microbiota on eye diseases: an overview

Pasquale Napolitano et al. Ann Med. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

The microbiota is a dynamic ecosystem that plays a major role in the host health. Numerous studies have reported that alterations in the intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis) may contribute to the pathogenesis of various common diseases such as diabetes, neuropsychiatric diseases, and cancer. However, emerging findings also suggest the existence of a gut-eye axis, wherein gut dysbiosis may be a crucial factor influencing the onset and progression of multiple ocular diseases, including uveitis, dry eye, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Currently, supplementation with pre- and probiotics appears is the most feasible and cost-effective approach to restore the gut microbiota to a eubiotic state and prevent eye pathologies. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on how gut microbiota may be linked to the pathogenesis of common eye diseases, providing therapeutic perspectives for future translational investigations within this promising research field.

Keywords: Microbiota; dysbiosis; eye disease; gut; probiotics.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflicts exist for any of the authors.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Autoimmune Uveite. (A) Endothelial depositsvand and iris nodules; (B) Flare and Tyndal; (C) SD-OCT Vitreitis.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
SD-OCT dry-AMD (A); SD-OCT wet-AMD (B).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Slit lamp picture of dry eye disease (A); Alteration of fluorescein distribution and reduction of BUT (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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