Microbial keratitis and vision loss with contact lenses.
OBJECTIVE
Microbial keratitis is the only sight-threatening adverse event that occurs with contact lens wear. This article gives a preliminary estimation of the incidence of microbial keratitis and vision loss with continuous-wear contact lenses made from highly oxygen permeable (Dk) materials.


METHODS
The most up-to-date data available on microbial keratitis and vision loss are collected from a range of sources including industry, private practice, and publications and is reviewed.


RESULTS
There have been 16 cases of microbial keratitis with high-Dk silicone hydrogel lenses. Of the 13 where data are available, none have lost two or more lines of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).


CONCLUSIONS
First approximation indicates that the incidence of microbial keratitis with high-Dk silicone hydrogel lenses may be lower than the incidence with low-Dk soft lenses during extended wear. The rate of loss of more than two lines of BCVA is low in patients that develop microbial keratitis with low- and high-Dk soft lenses.
Holden
Brien A
BA
Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit, School of Optometry and Vision Science, and the Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. B.Holden@crcert.unsw.edu.au
Sweeney
Deborah F
DF
Sankaridurg
Padmaja R
PR
Carnt
Nicole
N
Edwards
Katie
K
Stretton
Serina
S
Stapleton
Fiona
F
D000328:Adult; D000421:Alcaligenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003262:Contact Lenses, Extended-Wear / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014326:Tropanes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D014326:Tropanes; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; C100236:homatropine