Abstract
PURPOSE: The prevalence of myopia has increased worldwide in recent decades, shifting the focus in research from genetic to environmental factors. The roles of diet in the development of myopia may be directly associated with gut microbiota composition. Therefore this study evaluated the effects of antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis on the development of negative lens-induced myopia. METHODS: We administered several antibiotics (ampicillin, vancomycin, neomycin, or a mixture) to induce gut dysbiosis in male C57BL/6J mice with negative lens-induced myopia. Gut microbiome profiles were analyzed by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: Mice administered vancomycin, neomycin, and a mixture of three antibiotics exhibited resistance to lens-induced myopia, unlike control or ampicillin-administered mice. Further analyses revealed no specific trend in the gut microbiota composition and diversity related to myopia resistance, except for an increase in the abundance of Clostridiaceae. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the potential role of the gut microbiome, particularly Clostridiaceae family, in myopia susceptibility. This study offers new insights into the preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions to mitigate myopia development.