Subscribe to our complimentary Health Check newsletter for special insights on the latest developments in the health industry.
every Tuesday
Receive our complimentary Health Assessment newsletter each Tuesday.
New research indicates that certain inherited eye disorders may be linked to gut bacteria and could possibly be managed through the use of antibiotics.
Researchers discovered that mice with a specific genetic mutation that caused loss of sight had gut bacteria present in areas of their eyes that were damaged.
Based on the scientists’ discoveries, it is proposed that the genetic alteration could potentially weaken the body’s protective mechanisms and facilitate the entry of harmful bacteria into the eye, resulting in vision loss.
The digestive system houses countless microbes, a significant portion of which play a crucial role in maintaining proper digestion.
Nevertheless, they have the potential to be harmful.
“Unexpectedly, our research revealed a connection between the gut and the eyes that could potentially explain cases of blindness in certain patients,” Professor Richard Lee, co-lead author from the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, stated.
”
Our results could have significant impacts on revolutionizing the treatment of eye diseases associated with CRB1.
We aim to further investigate this phenomenon through clinical trials to validate if it is the root cause of vision loss in individuals, and to determine if treatments directed at bacteria could potentially prevent this loss of vision.
Furthermore, our research has uncovered a completely new connection between retinal degeneration and the gut, potentially affecting a wider range of eye disorders. We plan to investigate this further through future studies.
According to researchers, certain genetic eye disorders may result in blindness as a result of gut bacteria (David Davies/PA).
The researchers conducted a study on the effects of the CBR1 gene, which plays a critical role in regulating the flow of substances entering and exiting the eye.
This genetic marker is connected to hereditary eye conditions, specifically Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). It is responsible for 10% of LCA and 7% of RP cases globally.
Researchers found that a specific gene in the lower digestive tract regulates the movement of substances between the gut and the rest of the body, thus functioning to protect against disease and harmful bacteria.
The researchers discovered that the gene’s impact can be diminished by a specific mutation, allowing for the barriers in the retina and gut to be overcome.
This enables the transmission of gut bacteria into the eye, resulting in retinal lesions and eventual vision impairment.
The research showed that using antimicrobial treatments, such as antibiotics, was effective in preventing vision loss in mice, despite not repairing the damaged cell defenses in the eye.
Additional investigation needs to be conducted to determine if this is applicable to humans.
Hereditary vision disorders are the primary reason for blindness among individuals of working age in the United Kingdom.
Permanent vision loss cannot be reversed and has lasting consequences.
So far, the main emphasis in treatment development has been on gene therapies.
The website independent.co.uk is the source for the following information.
