Use of a Novel Transport Method for the Quantification of the Normal Flora of the External Eye

Abstract

A new method has been investigated to assess numbers of bacteria present on the normal lid and conjunctiva of the human eye. Counts were obtained for different colonising bacteria and limits set for normal values, which may allow for distinction between colonisation and infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae, beta-haemolytic streptococci, haemophili and coliform bacteria were not isolated from the normal eye by this method.