Microbiologic study of soft contact lenses after laser subepithelial keratectomy for myopia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the extent and agents of bacterial contamination of bandage disposable soft contact lenses after laser subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) and to correlate the findings with clinical data.


METHODS
Disposable soft contact lenses were collected from 52 eyes of 26 consecutive patients treated with LASEK for myopia. The patients were treated with a fixed combination of tobramycin and diclofenac until epithelial closure. The lenses were removed on the fourth or fifth postoperative day with sterile forceps and immediately placed in sterile tubes containing culture media brain-heart infusion broth. The lenses were evaluated for microbial colonization.


RESULTS
Of the 52 contact lenses analyzed, six (11.5%) had positive cultures. However, no clinical finding of infection was noted. Isolated microorganisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci (two lenses), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (two lenses), Acinetobacter species (one lens), and Aeromonas hydrophila (one lens). Except for one case, the microorganisms were sensitive to the administered antibiotic.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of infectious keratitis after LASEK seems to be low. Except for staphylococci, the isolated microorganisms have not been previously reported to colonize the ocular surface or cause keratitis after refractive surgery. These findings may suggest a changing trend of potentially infectious agents after surface ablation.
Hondur
Ahmet
A
Dinar State Hospital, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. ahondur@yahoo.com
Bilgihan
Kamil
K
Cirak
Meltem Yalinay
MY
Dogan
Ozgur
O
Erdinc
Alper
A
Hasanreisoglu
Berati
B
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000382:microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents