Disposable vs. non-disposable contact lenses-the relative risk of ocular infection.
The wearing of contact lenses is not without some risk. When prescribing contact lenses, several decisions must be made regarding the type of lens; for example, daily wear vs. extended wear and disposable or frequent replacement lenses vs. non-disposable or traditional (reusable) lenses. Often the decisions are based on issues of comfort, cost and/or the ability to fit the patient with one type or another. Consideration of a possible increase in the risk of ocular infection from contact lens wear is not necessarily a variable in the selection process, but maybe it should be. From the aspect of provider liability and as a public health issue, this paper will attempt to explore the relative risk of ocular infection associated with the wearing of disposable and traditional contact lenses.
Marshall
E C
EC
Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405.
D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*; D004203:Disinfection; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration