Researchers looked at the gut bacteria of 486 people with Type 2 diabetes. They compared patients who had diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can damage the eyes, to those who did not have it. The study aimed to see if different types of bacteria were associated with the progression of this eye disease.
The analysis found that while overall bacterial diversity was similar in both groups, specific types of bacteria differed significantly. Patients with diabetic retinopathy had lower levels of Patescibacteria and Synergistetes. They also showed higher levels of Verrucomicrobia and Bacteroides compared to those without the condition.
Because this study involved a small number of reports and showed high variation between studies, these results are not yet definitive. The findings show an association between gut health and eye disease but do not prove that changing the gut causes changes in the eyes. These results are early and may need more research to understand what these specific bacteria mean for patient care.
