Microbial keratitis is a sight threatening disorder and infections result in ocular pain, stromal destruction, corneal thinning and/or perforation, leading to vision loss, if untreated and the need for transplantation. Methods of treating bacterial infection of the cornea prophylactically or therapeutically in a subject, are provided according to aspects of the present invention which include administering an effective dose of glycyrrhizin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, ester, amide, isomer or derivative thereof characterized by anti-bacterial activity, to the subject.
