Antibiotics are part of an optometrist’s armoury when treating patients, and an increasing part of eye care.

However, one of the limiting factors with data and evidence about antibiotics and eye care is that the incidence and prevalence of eye infections in the UK are not recorded, says Mike Bowen, Director of Research at the College. “In addition, there is no central registry that keeps track of how much of each type of antibiotic optometrists are using,” he adds.

The literature in peer-reviewed journals may not highlight concerns about increases in the frequency of resistant strains of bacteria being detected in eye infections. “But,” says Mike, “we should treat this with some caution, as there are important gaps in our evidence around those questions.”