title: Predisposing factors in microbial keratitis: the significance of contact lens wear.
abstract: Fifty-three patients consecutively admitted to Moorfields Eye Hospital for treatment of suspected microbial keratitis were examined to identify predisposing factors. The principal associations were pre-existing corneal disease (22 patients (41.5%] and contact lens wear (22 patients (41.5%]. In 13 cases (25%) contact lens wear was the only factor in patients with otherwise healthy eyes using contact lenses as an alternative to spectacles. Gram-negative keratitis was more frequent in the lens wearers, with the exception of therapeutic lens users, than in other patients (p = 0.0006) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused keratitis in cosmetic soft lens users more frequently (p = 0.001). There was no correlation between lens handling or solution contamination in three extended wear soft-lens users. This implies that some soft-lens wearers may be infected by Gram-negative organisms from environmental sources other than contaminated lens care materials. Gram-negative keratitis is strongly associated with contact lens wear, and the diagnosis must be considered in any contact lens user with an acutely painful red eye.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Dart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000009:adverse effects; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification