Help with Prevention of Bacterial Infections for eyes

[onestudent]

I'm trying to find information about how microbaterial infections can enter the body through the eye, using it as a "Portal of Entry".  Does the eye have any defenses, other than lysozyme, to prevent bacterial infections from entering the body.  I've been searching for hours, but I can't find any information on the topic.  If you have any information, links, etc. related to the eye's defenses, please help.  Thanks!

[Ag-i-doc]

very, very rare to get a systemic infection from exposure thru the eye.  the OUTSIDE of the eye is a dead end.  in other words anything on the surface of your eye cannot get INSIDE of your eye or your body or your bloodstream b/c there are no openings in your cornea or conjuctiva.

now if you did have an opening like a corneal ulcer or abrasion or something, then you could get an INTRA-ocular infection...but it would *still* be highly unlikely to get a blood or systemic infection from an intraocular infection b/c of the BLOOD-EYE-BARRIER (google this term).

so the short version is, the eye is really NOT a portal or entryway for opportunistic systemic infection.  thats why you cant find anything on it.

[onestudent]

Thanks for the quick response, but it brings me another question.  I've read in my textbook that the conjunctiva can be a portal of entry for microbacteria.  However, you're stating that there isn't an opening, so could you clarify this?  Thanks again

[Ag-i-doc]

havent read that.  you might know more about it than me!
as far as i know, there is no "opeing" in either the bulbar or palpebral conjunctiva.  it is a membrane that is for the most part as far as i understand it not permeable to most bacteria/viruses/prions/etc.  it can certainly be infected by those (hence the term "conjuntivitis") but mostly a good barier against systemic infection.

but mycobacteria surely is a strange animal, and TB and leprosy (2 famous mycobacteria) are difficult to treat.  they do not respond to traditional antibiotic therapy.

like i said you probably know more than i do on this subject.  i have not ever seen a mycobacterial eye infection, and had not heard of the eye as being a "portal" for such infection.