The Microbial Guardians of Your Eyes

Did you know your eyes have their own ecosystem? Just like your gut and skin, the surface of your eyes is home to a diverse community of microscopic organisms — collectively known as the ocular microbiome. This delicate balance of bacteria, viruses, and fungi plays a vital role in protecting your eyes from infections, maintaining tear film stability, and supporting immune function.

Modern research is only beginning to uncover the complexity of this microbial world. For vision care experts like Fadi Kherdaji, understanding and supporting the ocular microbiome is fast becoming a crucial part of long-term eye health — especially for patients who wear contact lenses or suffer from chronic dryness and inflammation.

What Is the Ocular Microbiome?

The ocular microbiome refers to the tiny organisms living on the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the white of your eye) and corneal surface. Though the eye has fewer microbes than the gut or skin, the ones it does host are specialised to survive in an environment exposed to air, light, and regular blinking.

Typical species include:

• Corynebacterium – supports immune regulation
• Staphylococcus epidermidis – protects against harmful bacteria
• Propionibacterium – linked to tear production and meibomian gland health

When this microbiome is balanced, it helps prevent pathogens from taking hold. But when it’s disrupted, the door opens to eye infections, redness, irritation, and more chronic issues like blepharitis and dry eye syndrome.

What Disrupts Your Eye Microbiome?

1. Poor Contact Lens Hygiene
   Wearing lenses too long, failing to clean them properly, or using expired solution can introduce foreign bacteria to the ocular surface — disturbing the natural balance and increasing the risk of infection.
2. Overuse of Antibiotic Eye Drops
   While essential in some cases, repeated use of antibiotic or steroid eye drops can strip the microbiome, killing helpful bacteria alongside harmful ones.
3. Diet and Gut Health
   Your gut and eye microbiomes are surprisingly connected. A poor diet high in sugar and processed food can weaken immune signals, causing microbial imbalance across multiple systems — including the eyes.
4. Makeup and Eye Rubbing
   Bacteria from eyeliner, mascara wands, or unwashed hands can contaminate the ocular area, especially when the skin barrier is compromised.

Signs Your Eye Microbiome May Be Out of Balance

• Frequent styes or eye infections
• Chronic dry eyes or burning sensation
• Redness, puffiness, or eyelid irritation
• Blurred vision or fluctuating clarity

If these symptoms persist, it may be worth exploring beyond surface-level treatments and addressing the microbial ecosystem beneath.

How to Support a Healthy Eye Microbiome

• Practice Strict Contact Lens Hygiene
  Always wash hands, clean lenses properly, and replace them as directed.
• Limit Unnecessary Antibiotics
  Only use medicated drops under clinical advice. Consider probiotics if prescribed antibiotics have disrupted your system.
• Eat for Your Eyes
  Support your whole microbiome with a diet rich in:
  • Omega-3s (salmon, flaxseeds)
  • Leafy greens (spinach, kale)
  • Probiotics (yoghurt, kefir, kimchi)
• Keep Cosmetics Clean
  Replace eye makeup every 3–6 months and avoid applying products directly to the inner lash line.
• Consider Meibomian Gland Support
  Warm compresses and eyelid wipes help maintain oil gland health — a major part of microbial balance and tear stability.

The Future of Eye Care Is Microbial

At Fadi Kherdaji’s Cheltenham and South Wales clinics, we’re always looking ahead. Research into microbiome-based therapies is expanding — from live biotherapeutic drops to precision probiotic treatments. In the near future, we may be able to personalise dry eye treatment or infection prevention based on each patient’s microbial profile.

Where Tech Meets the Microbiome

As advanced procedures like LASIK, SMILE Pro, ICL implants, and trifocal lens cataract surgery reshape what’s possible in vision correction, the role of the eye’s microbiome is gaining new attention. These high-precision technologies interact with the delicate surface of the eye — where microbial balance matters most. A healthy ocular microbiome may reduce post-op inflammation, speed up healing, and lower the risk of complications.

Forward-thinking clinics like ours are beginning to integrate microbial health into surgical planning and aftercare, using it as a marker of optimal recovery. The future of eye care isn’t just about sharper vision — it’s about harmony between tech and biology.

Concerned about dry eyes, lens discomfort, or frequent irritation? Book an appointment with Fadi Kherdaji to explore treatment options backed by the latest science.