Paul RS, Samanta A. Gut-ocular axis: An emerging strategy to treat ocular diseases. World J Clin Cases 2026; 14(25): 124172 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.124172]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Arghya Samanta, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata 700020, West Bengal, India. arghyasamanta2905@gmail.com
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Ophthalmology
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review-article
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Paul RS, Samanta A. Gut-ocular axis: An emerging strategy to treat ocular diseases. World J Clin Cases 2026; 14(25): 124172 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.124172]
World J Clin Cases. Sep 6, 2026; 14(25): 124172 Published online Sep 6, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.124172
Gut-ocular axis: An emerging strategy to treat ocular diseases
Raj Shekhar Paul, Arghya Samanta
Raj Shekhar Paul, Departments of Cornea and Ocular Surface, Aditya Birla Sankara Nethralaya, Kolkata, West Bengal (A Unit of Medical Research Foundation, Chennai), India, Kolkata 700099, West Bengal, India
Arghya Samanta, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata 700020, West Bengal, India
Author contributions: Samanta A has conceptualised and designed the manuscript; Paul RS did the literature review, analysis, data collection, interpretation, drafted the initial manuscript, Samanta A did critical revision of the initial manuscript, and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The authors take full responsibility and accountability for all content of this manuscript, including any portions for which AI tools were used as assistive technologies. All AI-assisted outputs were carefully reviewed, validated, and approved by the authors. AI tools were not used to generate original scientific data, perform independent scientific analyses, or draw scientific conclusions.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Corresponding author: Arghya Samanta, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata 700020, West Bengal, India. arghyasamanta2905@gmail.com
Received: June 15, 2026 Revised: August 2, 2026 Accepted: August 20, 2026 Published online: September 6, 2026 Processing time: 87 Days and 7.8 Hours
Abstract
The gut-eye axis is a bidirectional communication pathway linking gut microbiota to ocular health, where a dysbiotic gut can contribute to eye diseases like age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and dry eyes; even ocular conditions can also influence the gut. This gut - ocular axis offers new therapeutic targets using probiotics, prebiotics, dietary modification, or novel methods like fecal microbiota transplantation to improve eye health. This review also discusses future research prospects in the gut-eye axis, while addressing a research gap in the existing literature.
Core Tip: The gut-eye axis highlights a critical relationship between gut microbiota and eye. Gut dysbiosis can promote inflammatory and immune-mediated eye diseases. Microbiome-targeted interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, dietary modification, and fecal microbiota transplantation represent promising therapeutic strategies for maintaining and improving eye health.
