Metagenomics solved this 29-year-old woman's mysterious eye infection that tormented her for five years

Imagine having an inflamed eye that does not heal despite undergoing various treatments and consultations. In this case, the inflammation resulted in the blurring of vision for the patient. 

29-year-old Ellie Irwin, a doctor from Bristol at one point even considered her right eye removed after being tormented by the mysterious eye infection that plagued her health for five years. 

"Whilst losing sight in one eye is terrifying, my biggest fear was that it might spread to my left eye," said Ellie to BBC. 

The eye infection had made it difficult for her to manage the daily chores. She was prescribed steroid eye drops and immunosuppressants, some of which needed to be given by intravenous infusion. 

Ellie was offered a "last resort" analysis called metagenomics, which proved to be a game changer. The result from the test had some startling revelations that gave her relief and transformed her life. 

She was diagnosed with a rare bacterial infection and was put on antibiotics that cured her of the mysterious eye infection. 

What is metagenomics?

According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, metagenomics is often used to study a specific community of microorganisms, such as those residing on human skin, in the soil or in a water sample.

A sample of fluid was taken from inside Ellie's eye and sent to the metagenomics labs at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to carry out the diagnostic tests, reported BBC. 

Experts believe metagenomics is an absolute game-changer, especially in Ellie's case where the test diagnosed a rare rare strain of the bacterial infection leptospirosis found in South America. It is presumed that she picked up the bug swimming in the Amazon river in 2018, while on a trip to Ecuador and Colombia.

Health