title: Improved contact lens disinfection by exposure to violet radiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conventional procedures for contact lens disinfection, based on solutions with aggressive chemical ingredients, not only affect microorganisms but operate likewise damaging towards the epithelial eye surface.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of an alternative or complementary disinfection procedure for contact lenses based on irradiation within the visible wavelength range.
  
  
  METHODS
  Suspensions of S. auricularis, B. subtilis and E. coli were exposed to 405 nm irradiation, for determining the disinfection efficacy. Surviving rates were analyzed by membrane filtration as well as a semi-quantitative analysis using DipSlides.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant antibacterial effect of the 405 nm irradiation is verifiable for all probed bacteria. Using S. auricularis, there has been no colony forming after an irradiation exposure of 2 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hitherto existing results give reason for the assumption that violet LEDs integrated in contact lens cases will provide a subsidiary disinfection activity and maybe even offer the reduction of chemical ingredients in lens cleaning solutions to become gentler to the eye. In addition the danger of a rerise of the germ concentration after the completion of the disinfection procedure will be reduced.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoenes
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stangl
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hessling
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000528:radiation effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000382:microbiology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D018639:Contact Lens Solutions
keywords: 405 nm; Contact lens disinfection; porphyrin; violet LED; visible irradiation