Single 5-second UVC treatment cuts bacterial load in dogs, horses and cats
Median 96.5% drop in bacterial count across 34 eyes at a UK referral hospital.
Veterinary Ophthalmology, 2026
Evidence Library
The evidence behind PhotonUVC Vet.
Published research on 265 nm UVC for corneal infection, from early laboratory tests in 2011 to clinical data in dogs, horses and cats in 2026. Each summary sets out what the study did, what it found, its limitations and a link to the original paper.
Clinical evidence.
Studies in veterinary patients treated with PhotonUVC.
Veterinary clinical study · 2026
Efficacy.
How UVC acts on bacteria, fungi, biofilm and drug-resistant strains.
Preclinical efficacy · 2022
Preclinical confirmation of UVC efficacy in infectious keratitis
Lab, pig-eye and randomised mouse studies: bacteria cleared from every treated cornea.
The Ocular Surface, 2022
Independent efficacy study · 2025
UVC against multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas keratitis
Independent study: no bacteria grew from UVC-treated corneas, matching targeted antibiotics.
Contact Lens & Anterior Eye, 2025
Laboratory efficacy study · 2025
Anti-biofilm efficacy of low-dose 265 nm UVC
15-second exposures killed 48-hour Pseudomonas biofilm within 4 hours.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 2025
Laboratory study · 2011
Efficacy and safety of a novel UVC device for corneal bacterial infections
An early study of the device: 1-second exposures inhibited all four bacteria tested.
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology, 2011
Safety.
What UVC does, and doesn't do, to corneal tissue.
Safety study · 2021
Effect of therapeutic UVC on corneal DNA
No detectable DNA damage in mouse corneas after three daily 15-second treatments.
The Ocular Surface, 2021
Safety study · 2024 conference abstract
Safety of therapeutic UVC at the limbus
Even after 60 minutes, DNA effects stayed in the outer epithelium, away from stem cells.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2024
Reviews.
The wider evidence on UV light for infection.
Systematic review and meta-analysis · 2021
Safety and efficacy of UV light for superficial infections: systematic review
53 studies reviewed; adverse event rates with UV similar to standard treatment.
The Ocular Surface, 2021
Condition guides.
How the evidence applies to the corneal infections vets see most.
Condition guide · Dogs and cats
Melting corneal ulcers (keratomalacia)
Pseudomonas drives the worst outcomes. How UVC can cut bacterial load while culture results are pending.
Condition guide · Cats
Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) keratitis
A leading cause of recurrent corneal ulcers in cats. What UVC can and can’t do alongside antivirals.
Condition guide · Dogs, cats and horses
Antibiotic-resistant bacterial keratitis
Multidrug resistance is rising in canine keratitis. UVC works regardless of antibiotic susceptibility.
About this research.
Most of the early laboratory and safety research was carried out at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where Photon Therapeutics co-founder and PhotonUVC inventor Dr Simon Dean is a researcher. The 2025 drug-resistant Pseudomonas study was carried out independently at the LV Prasad Eye Institute in India, and the 2026 clinical study at Veterinary Vision in the UK. Competing interests are listed on each summary.
For an overview of corneal infection in dogs, cats and horses, read our white paper, Corneal Infections in Domestic Pets (PDF).
Bring PhotonUVC Vet into your practice.
A 5-second, non-contact UVC treatment for corneal infections in dogs, cats and horses.