Honey Prophylaxis Reduces the Risk of Endophthalmitis During Perioperative Period of Eye Surgery

Abstract

Endophthalmitis following eye surgery remains a rare but serious complication. Topical fluoroquinolones have been used as prophylactic agents against endophthalmitis. However, the emerging resistance of ocular pathogens to fluoroquinolones may preclude their routine use. Honey, a natural antimicrobial product with wound healing properties, is a promising candidate for the prophylaxis of endophthalmitis. The goal of this study was to determine whether 25% (w/v) honey solution is effective in eradicating bacterial ocular pathogens in the perioperative period in patients scheduled for cataract surgery or vitrectomy, and to compare its efficacy to 0.3% ofloxacin. In this pilot study, 101 patients were randomized to honey (n = 49) or ofloxacin (n = 52) treatment. In both groups, eye drops were administered five times a day for 7 days before and 5 days after surgery. Before administration of the antibacterial agents, 18 and 25 isolates were detected in the ofloxacin and honey group, respectively. After 7 days of administration, four isolates (coagulase-negative Staphylococcus) were detected in each therapeutic group. No significant difference in antibacterial effect was found between groups. These results indicate that honey may act as a prophylactic agent of endophthalmitis; however, further studies are needed to characterize its ocular penetration properties.

Prevention of Bacterial Biofilm Formation on Soft Contact Lenses Using Natural Compounds

“…Many natural compounds have been used to kill infectious pathogens, others were used for eye remedies because they are known to be safe on eye [18, 19]. For example, honey was used for treatment of CL induced corneal ulcer; and it shows high in vitro antibacterial activity against ocular isolates [20]. Moreover, honey exhibits anti-biofilm and anti-inflammatory properties, and thus becomes an interesting ophthalmologic agent [21].…”

Honey: A Natural Remedy for Eye Diseases

“…Our recent study has shown that honeydew honey reduces the risk of endophthalmitis during the perioperative period of eye surgery, i.e. cataract surgery and vitrectomy [13]. We found that honey had an antibacterial potency comparable to that of ofloxacin, a second-generation fluoroquinolone, to eradicate ocular pathogens in the perioperative period.…”

“…The most dominant aerobic bacterium isolated from patients with dry eye is coagulase-negative Staphylococcus [14,15]. As we have described elsewhere [13], honeydew honey is able to inhibit ocular isolates of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Similarly, Albietz and Lenton [2] showed that honey significantly reduced the total number of colony-forming units for the eyelids and the conjunctiva of dry eye patients after 1 and 3 months of treatment.…”

A Double Blind Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Honey Drop in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

“…Considering that vernal keratoconjunctivitis is an allergic inflammatory disease of the eye, possibly honey has been effective in improving symptoms by reducing inflammation. Previous investigations have concluded that honey might be a good remedy for ocular wounds and it is used as a panacea for eye diseases [16, 17]. …”