Can probiotics cause eye problems

Can Probiotics Cause Eye Problems? (good, bad & the ugly)

Dr. Adil

Medically reviewed by Dr. Adil July 8, 2023

We’ve known for a long time that probiotics are “good bacteria” found in our gut. Surprisingly, they can have both good and bad effects on our eyes.

Key Highlights
  • Probiotics can have both good and bad effects on our eyes.
  • Probiotics can alleviate eye health problems, prevent and treat eye infections, and help with conjunctivitis and eye allergy symptoms.
  • The benefits of taking probiotics still outweigh the risks, but it’s important to consult a doctor before taking them.
  • Click here for the BEST PRICE of our recommend probiotics supplement.

Yeah, a 2015 study discovered that gut bacteria might provoke autoimmunity and cause uveitis (an eye problem) by activating immune system T cells in the gut. That’s quite surprising because many of us don’t really see a direct connection between our eyes and the digestive system.

But what’s really puzzling is that a recent case report showed that probiotics might have improved the symptoms of a patient diagnosed with uveitis some 3 years before the gut bacteria supplementation.

Why do these results differ between probiotics and eye problems, particularly uveitis? How can gut bacteria affect the eyes, and which ones are good for ocular health?

Do probiotics have other benefits for the eyes, and what’s the best method for better eye health?

Let me discuss more.

Do Probiotics Affect The Eyes?

Yes, probiotics do affect the eyes. Our guts might be far from the eyes, but the complexity of the human body actually links them together in more ways than scientists first thought.

woman-looking at her eyes in lenses

Scientists made a surprising discovery in the 2015 study I mentioned above. 

First, let me tell you that the eye has a blood-tissue barrier that actually separates it physically from the rest of the body. Unlike most parts of our bodies, there’s a minimal exchange of substances or chemicals through this barrier.

This protects our eyes, thankfully, from most chemicals that could potentially harm them.

In uveitis, the T cells are able to penetrate the barrier. Because T cells need to be activated to do that, this made scientists question how that could even occur in the first place.

So, let me explain it to you below.

Gut Microbes Linked To Eye Disease

In the 2015 study I mentioned earlier, scientists wanted to determine where the T cells came from before invading the eyes.

Using mice genetically engineered to develop autoimmune uveitis, the scientists searched for activated T cells before these test subjects developed uveitis symptoms.

It was initially predicted that the T cells will be activated in the lymph nodes because these glands swell during uveitis (but these glands do swell for other forms of infection and illnesses).

The researchers were surprised to discover that the lymph nodes weren’t the first to have activated T cells. Instead, the concentrations were much higher in the intestines.

Further studies with these activated T cells showed that they can produce a protein shown to increase the damage incurred from autoimmune uveitis.

Then, when they gave mice an antibiotic cocktail to wipe out gut bacteria, the test subjects given the medications only developed autoimmune uveitis much later than the controls (not given antibiotics).

The researcher theorized that the T cells were activated and affected the eyes because the gut bacteria might have produced proteins similar to those found in the retina (part of your eyes). Because of this, your immune system attacks the retinal proteins even if they weren’t doing anything bad.

Can Helicobacter Pylori Cause Dry Eyes?

In a 2004 clinical trial, researchers discovered that patients with Helicobacter pylori were more likely to develop quantitative moisturizing disorders (conditions that affect the moisture levels of certain areas of the body, typically the skin).

The study explained that Helicobacter pylori are bacteria linked to Sjögren’s syndrome and Acne rosacea, both of which have connections to dry eye syndrome.

However, the researchers also warned that this still requires further studies and clinical trials with a larger population. 

Researchers in future clinical trials might consider treating the test subjects for Helicobacter pylori and checking whether this would alleviate or completely remove the symptoms of dry eye.

Gut Microbiota (Probiotics) & Dry Eye Syndrome

Immune-mediated dry eye syndrome might happen through a similar mechanism as autoimmune uveitis explained above. 

However, a more recent 2022 study explained that although changes in probiotic levels might affect dry eye syndrome, further studies are needed to fully determine which gut microorganisms actually lead to the condition, and which ones can be used as a potential therapeutic option.

After all, this study pointed out that there are also researchers who discovered that probiotics can be used as a treatment to alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes.

This brings us to the next burning question in everyone’s minds: what are these benefits and do all probiotic strains help your eyes?

Let me explain these below.

Benefits Of Probiotics On Your Eyes & Vision

While probiotics might negatively affect your eyes, as I already explained above, the benefits of taking them still outweigh the risks.

probiotics foods and pills

But if you’ll ask me whether you should take probiotics despite these risks, my answer would be to consult your doctor. They’re the authority in this subject matter, and they can run tests to check if you have a higher chance of experiencing ill effects from probiotic intake.

So, let’s dive into each probiotic benefit below.

1. Probiotics Can Alleviate Eye Health Problems

Researchers of a 2018 study conducted in Japan showed that the Lactobacillus paracasei KW3110 probiotic can protect against degenerative retinal diseases or eye health problems.

They discovered several mechanisms of how the probiotic helps retain visual function, including suppression of inflammation and degeneration of the photoreceptor in your eyes.

That sounds quite promising, right?

But if probiotics can alleviate eye problems, can they also prevent and treat eye infections? Let’s find out below.

2. Probiotics Can Prevent Eye Infection

Another 2021 study using a probiotic blend containing live Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus showed promising results in preventing common eye infections.

Bacteroides fragilis might protect against autoimmune diseases of the eyes, the same study suggested.

3. Probiotics Can Help Treat Eye Infection

The second 2021 study mentioned above showed that an eye drop probiotic formulation with Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus could help in treating eye infection.

Taking a blend of these probiotics helped alleviate the infection’s symptoms, including:

  • Itching
  • Photophobia (eye discomfort in bright light, also known as fear of light)
  • Burning
  • Tearing or laceration

4. Probiotics Can Help With Conjunctivitis

Pink eye or conjunctivitis is an infectious eye condition caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Although it can be unpleasant and embarrassing, conjunctivitis isn’t life-threatening.

Treatment is also easy because antibiotic eye drops are readily available.

Conjunctivitis doesn’t require oral treatment but Healthline recommends taking probiotic supplements or increasing probiotic foods (e.g., yogurt, kimchi, pickles, and sauerkraut) in your diet to help ward off infections and improve your eye health.

5. Probiotics Can Help With Eye Allergy Symptoms

Dr. Torrey J. Carlson explains that probiotics can also help prevent or alleviate eye allergy symptoms, based on several clinical trials.

According to Dr. Carlson, test subjects in these clinical trials showed a marked decrease in eye symptoms following the intake of probiotics.

Although further studies need to be done to determine which strains work best, Dr. Carlson pointed out that these results are promising. 

One study in 2007 showed that Lactobacillus acidophilus eye drops can help prevent and control the symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, a severe form of seasonal eye allergy.

Evidence Of Probiotic Benefits On Dry Eyes

I explained above that a 2022 study showed that gut bacteria might trigger dry eyes, yet other studies also showed that probiotics are beneficial to the eyes and might help with dry eye disease.

This potential benefit was explained in a 2019 review. This review shared that a clinical trial using Probiotic IRT-5 (which contains Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Bifidobacterium bifidum) helped manage dry eye caused by autoimmune uveitis and autoimmune eye conditions.

According to the 2019 review, another study using a combination of probiotics, prebiotics, and vitamins to modulate gut function also alleviated dry eye disease.

The following were used in this study:

  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Streptococcus thermophilus
  • Lactobacillus plantarum
  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus
  • Bifidobacterium lactis
  • Zinc
  • Vitamins B1, B2, and B6
  • Niacin

Another gut bacteria, Enterococcus faecium WB2000 was also shown in another study included in the 2019 review as possibly effective against dry eye.

A combination of Enterococcus faecium and Saccharomyces boulardii also worked on patients in another study included in this review.

Probiotic Strains For Eye Health

While doing research on this topic, I’m quite amazed by how so many probiotic strains can be good for eye health, whether taken orally or used as eye drops.

Although further studies are needed to determine the best choices for certain eye conditions, these are some of the probiotic strains that showed promising results as I explained above:

  • Lactobacillus paracasei
  • Streptococcus thermophilus
  • Lactococcus lactis
  • Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus
  • Bacteroides fragilis
  • Saccharomyces boulardii
  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Lactobacillus casei
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Lactobacillus reuteri
  • Bifidobacterium bifidum
  • Lactobacillus plantarum
  • Bifidobacterium lactis
  • Enterococcus faecium

So, what’s the best method of using these probiotics for better eye health?

Because of the blood-tissue barrier that I explained above, probiotic eye drops have a better chance of treating certain eye conditions than oral supplements. 

Still, oral probiotics are good at improving your gut health, preventing these conditions, and improving your immune system.

Any Best Probiotic Eye Drops Out There?

Upon checking the web, I couldn’t find ready-made eye drops that contain probiotics. However, it isn’t a good idea to prepare your medications at home if it involves something you put directly in your eyes!

So, it’s best to consult your doctor about the eye drops they recommend that might contain probiotics.

Can You Put Probiotics In Your Eyes?

Yes, you can put probiotics in your eyes. The good news is that the 2007 study mentioned above found that using freeze-dried inactivated Lactobacillus acidophilus prepared in saline solution can be effective in helping alleviate vernal keratoconjunctivitis, a form of severe eye allergy.

Can You Use Yogurt And Other Oral Probiotics On Your Eyes? 

Never put oral probiotics on your eyes unless your doctor says so and provides you with the right eye drops to use! I’ll never advise you to put any food containing probiotics in your eyes.

However, you can continue taking oral probiotics because they can still have good effects on your eye health even if they’re processed in your gut.

Although the following probiotics are taken orally and aren’t specifically marketed for your eyes, they both contain probiotics that might help alleviate some eye health problems:

Bauer Nutrition Biotics 8

Bauer Nutrition Biotics 8 contains probiotics shown to have possible positive effects on eye conditions, including:

  • Saccharomyces boulardii
  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus
  • Lactobacillus casei
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Bifidobacterium bifidum
  • Lactobacillus plantarum
  • Lactobacillus paracasei

Learn more about Biotics 8 here

Yourbiology Gut+

Yourbiology Gut+ also has these probiotics that can be good for your eyes:

  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Lactobacillus plantarum
  • Bifidobacterium lactis
  • Lactobacillus paracasei

FAQs on Probiotics and Eye Issues

Can Digestive & Gut Health Issues Cause Eye Problems?

Gut health can affect your eyes due to something called the gut-eye axis, a 2020 review pointed out. 

If your gut health is good, then it won’t affect your eyes at all. However, when complications or diseases in your digestive system arise, these issues could have a negative impact on your eyes.

For example, a 2016 study showed a possible association between IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and eye problems (e.g., dry eye disease).

The 2015 study I mentioned also indicated that some probiotics might trigger eye problems, particularly autoimmune conditions.

But can acid reflux cause vision problems? According to the GCNJ (Gastro Center of New Jersey), acid reflux can lead to temporary blurry vision. While that’s bad news if you need to focus on a certain task, the good news is that it’s likely temporary and won’t lead to permanent eye damage.

About your possible question on whether digestive problems can cause puffy eyes, the answer is actually “yes.” Because of the gut-eye axis that I mentioned above, serious conditions such as liver, kidney, or digestive disorders can also lead to puffy eyes.

The good news is that probiotics might help alleviate these gut and eye conditions as we already discussed above.

Can Probiotics Cure My Dry Eyes?

Yes, probiotics are good for dry eyes. The 2019 review above showed how several probiotic strains might help cure your dry eyes.

Most of these probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus Plantarum, and Lactobacillus paracasei) are found in the products I recommend above.

Are Probiotics Good For Sjögren’s?

Gut dysbiosis (imbalance of gut microbiota) prevails in Sjögren’s syndrome, among the most common chronic autoimmune diseases. 

Sjögren’s syndrome can cause dry eyes. 

Researchers theorize in a 2020 study that because the condition itself is caused by an imbalance (gut dysbiosis), then taking probiotics linked to Sjögren’s syndrome could help restore balance in your gut and improve your eye health.

The study used the following probiotics, which alleviated the symptoms of this ocular surface disease:

  • Lactobacillus casei
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Lactobacillus reuteri
  • Bifidobacterium bifidum
  • Streptococcus thermophilus

Wrap up

While this study is still in its early stages, it provides a potential explanation for how gut bacteria might provoke autoimmunity and cause uveitis.

Uveitis is a condition that leads to inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, and it can cause pain, blurred vision, and light sensitivity. The study was conducted on mice, so it’s not clear yet if the same results would be seen in humans.

However, this research provides an interesting new avenue for further study into how gut bacteria might impact eye health. If you are taking probiotics and have any concerns about whether they may be causing problems with your eyesight, please consult with your doctor.

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