Microbial communities played a vital role in maintaining homeostasis of ocular surface. However, no studies explored the
myopia-associated conjunctiva microbiota changes until now. In this study, conjunctival sac swab specimens were collected
from 12 eyes of low myopia (LM), and 14 eyes of high myopia (HM) patients. The V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was
amplified and then sequenced. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate differences in the taxonomy and diversity
between two groups. Compared to LM, higher Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores were observed in HM group. The
Shannon index of the HM was lower than that of the LM group (P = 0.017). Principle coordinate analysis and Partial Least
Squares Discrimination Analysis showed distinct microbiome composition between two groups. At the phylum level, there
were higher relative abundances of Proteobacteria (68.27% vs 38.51%) and lower abundances of Actinobacteria (3.71% vs
9.19%) in HM, compared to LM group (P = 0.031, 0.010, respectively). At the genus level, the abundances of Acinetobacter
in HM (18.16%) were significantly higher than the LM (6.52%) group (P = 0.011). Actinobacteria levels were negatively
correlated with the myopic spherical equivalent and OSDI scores. Moreover, positive correlations were found between
Proteobacteria levels and OSDI scores, Acinetobacter levels were positively correlated with myopic spherical equivalent
and OSDI scores. In conclusion, HM Patients have bacterial microbiota imbalance in the conjunctival sac, compared with
LM patients. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acinetobacter may play roles in the HM associated ocular surface irritation.
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Gut Microbiota Profiles in Myopes and Nonmyopes Wan E. W. Omar, Gurdeep Singh, Andrew J. McBain, Fiona Cruickshank, Hema Radhakrishnan Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.2024; 65(5): 2. CrossRef