Bacterial Profiles in Conjunctival Sac of Dry Eyes and Normal Eyes in Middle- and Old-aged Yi Populations

Objecitve To compare the bacterial profiles in conjunctival sac of dry eyes and normal eyes in Yi people aged 40 years or old. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with standardized training and protocol. A total of 140 dry eyes of 70 individuals from Yi people in Jiulong county underwent ophthalmological examinations. The secretions of the inferior palpebral conjunctival sac were embrocated and inoculated on blood plates for 48 hours. The bacteria were separated and identified. Another 132 normal eyes from 66 Yi individuals were examined as controls. Results Bacterial positive cultivations were found in 72.1% (101/140) of dry eyes and 67.4% (89/132) of normal eyes, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (P=0.397). No gender difference in the bacterial positive rates was found either. Gram-positive bacteria were the main bacteria in both dry eyes (95.2%, 98/103)and normal eyes (91.1%, 82/90), predominantly staphylococcus epidemids and corynebacterium. There were no statistical differences in the constituents of bacteria in Gram classification and numbers of bacteria between dry eyes and normal eyes (P>0.05). Conclusion The bacterial profile in conjunctival sac of dry eyes is similar to that of normal eyes in Yi people aged 40 years or over. Gram-positive bacteria are the main bacteria.