Human Milk in Dry Eye Disease: A Narrative Review with Historical Translation from the Ebers Papyrus. [Review]

Maskill, D.; Blizzard, RM.; Okonkwo, A.

Human Milk in Dry Eye Disease: A Narrative Review with Historical Translation from the Ebers Papyrus. [Review]

All Authors

Maskill, D.

Blizzard, RM.

Okonkwo, A.

LTHT Author

Okonkwo, Arthur

LTHT Department

Head & Neck
Ophthalmology

Publication Date

2026

Item Type

Journal Article Review

Subject

CORNEA , MILK, HUMAN

Abstract

Historical medical texts occasionally preserve therapeutics of unexpected modern relevance. This hypothesis-generating review presents a new translation and interpretation of human milk-based ophthalmic remedies in the Ebers papyrus (~1550 BC) and evaluates their potential applicability to contemporary dry eye disease. Growth factors abundant in human milk parallel those delivered by autologous serum tears, and emerging evidence, including animal models and limited clinical studies, demonstrates that both human milk and bovine colostrum can promote corneal epithelial healing and reduce ocular surface inflammation. Given the high cost of current therapies and the ethical constraints surrounding donor human milk, bovine colostrum represents a low-cost, scalable alternative warranting further investigation. This historical-biomedical synthesis illustrates how ancient medical practices may inform modern strategies for managing refractory ocular surface disease.