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

Purpose: To investigates the gut microbiota in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) compared with normal subjects. Method: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.