Month/Year of Graduation

12-2023

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Kristen Johnson

Abstract

While the eye was once considered free of resident bacteria due to its efficient immunity mechanisms, recent studies have determined that most healthy eyes contain a variety of microbiota. Many studies have been aimed at classifying bacteria that are part of the core microbiome of the eye and the conditions under which they differ. As with gut health, a dysbiosis of ocular bacteria could correlate to disease, which presents the idea of treatment with probiotics to help regulate the microbiota of the eye. This study utilized growth assays to determine a common probiotic’s effect on bacteria that can be found on the ocular surface. Also, it used a survey to investigate current ocular experts’ outlook toward the use of probiotics in optometry. Results have showed a mixed perspective, but with a commonality of the desire to cut back antibiotic use and an optimism toward probiotic treatment in the next 10 years. While the growth assay technique continues to be refined, it has supported the growth inhibition of E. coli due to the presence of L. acidophilus. Additional research should focus efforts on dry eye disease.

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