Low-power microwave disinfection of soft contact lenses.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of low-power microwave irradiation on the disinfection of contaminated contact lenses.


METHODS
We infected 24 soft contact lenses with Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Each contact lens was placed into a vial containing 10 mL of contaminated, non-preserved saline. Each vial was then exposed to 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, or 18 minutes of microwave irradiation in an oven (2,450 MHz 600W) set at 10% power.


RESULTS
We found all contact lenses to be disinfected after 15 minutes of exposure. All lenses remained hydrated and revealed no apparent damage when examined under the slit-lamp biomicroscope.


CONCLUSIONS
Low level microwaving in a home microwave oven can result in effective and non-damaging disinfection of soft contact lenses.
Kastl
P R
PR
Department of Ophthalmology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Maehara
J R
JR
D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000382:microbiology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D008872:Microwaves; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000254:growth & development*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors