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New research · Ophthalmology
Veterinary ophthalmology · 23h
Cohort studyVeterinary ophthalmology · 2026

Efficacy of Therapeutic UVC Irradiation in Reducing Bacterial Load in Microbial Keratitis: A Retrospective Clinical Study in Veterinary Patients.

Christopher J Dixon, Gary A Lewin
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OphthalmologyCohort study

Single low-dose UVC exposure was associated with substantial bacterial load reduction.

Efficacy of Therapeutic UVC Irradiation in Reducing Bacterial Load in Microbial Keratitis: A Retrospective Clinical Study in Veterinary Patients.

Christopher J Dixon et al. · Veterinary ophthalmology · 2026
Purpose

To evaluate the immediate effect of therapeutic ultraviolet-C (UVC) irradiation on corneal bacterial load in veterinary patients with microbial keratitis (MK), using a retrospective analysis of clinical data collected at a UK referral ophthalmology hospital.

Methods

Clinical records from MK cases were reviewed.

Results
less bacteria were on the eye after one UVC treatment
More results

A total of 34 eyes from 30 patients (25 canine, 6 equine, 3 feline) met the inclusion criteria.

Median (IQR) CFU decreased from 89.5 (30.3-14 400) pre-UVC to 15 (0-207) post-UVC.

A total of 11 of 34 eyes (32%) were culture-negative after UVC, and 32/34 (94%) showed ≥ 75% reduction.

More results

Reductions were observed across all major pathogens, including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, and coliforms.

“
Conclusion · 1 of 2

In this cohort of patients, a single low-dose UVC exposure produced substantial immediate reductions in corneal bacterial load in veterinary MK patients.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings support further controlled trials to define the role of UVC as an adjunct to conventional antimicrobial therapy.

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