[Study and prevention of contact lens-related microbial keratitis with a standardized questionnaire]

Rub and Rinse Contact Lenses Before Wearing as a Protective Regimen Against Contact Lens-Related Eye Infections

Purpose

Data on contact lens (CL) users in Thailand are limited, and previous reports have mainly focused on young populations. This study aims to determine demographic data, hygienic behaviour, and complications related to the usage of CLs in the general population.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional survey conducted from November 2020 to March 2021 using an anonymous questionnaire. Information on the demographic traits of the participants, characteristics of CL use, and CL care behaviours was collected. The responses were summarised and presented as a total behaviour score. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the potential risk factors for a history of CL-related eye infections.

Results

A total of 134 CL wearers were recruited. Of all the participants, 83.58% were female and 16.42% were male. The average age was 31.14±10.69 years old. The total behaviour score showed that 62.69% of the population had good CL behaviour, while 37.31% exhibited poor CL behaviour. More than 50% of participants practised appropriate CL handling. Common unfavourable behaviours (>50%) reported were not using CL care solution to clean the storage case, not rubbing and rinsing the lens before storage, exposure to water during wear, use of makeup around the ocular area, and missing annual eye exams. Other less common but important instances of mishandling included using tap water to clean the lenses, topping off old CL solution, and exceeding the recommended planned-replacement period. However, no behaviours were significantly associated with a history of CL-related eye infections. Rubbing and rinsing CLs before wearing them was found to be a protective factor against a history of eye infections.

Conclusion

Rubbing and rinsing CLs before wearing should be mentioned as an additional recommendation for the user.

A web-based survey of contact lens-related adverse events among the Japanese female population

To assess the safety of cosmetic contact lenses and to identify other factors of contact lens (CL)-related complications for Japanese females. A web-based, cross-sectional, observational survey of complications related to CL use was performed. The frequencies of complications were compared between transparent and cosmetic CLs. Besides lens pigmentation, age, replacement schedule, total experience, daily wear time, location of purchase, stacking of CLs, CL exchange with friends, compliance to hygiene procedure, replacement of CLs at intervals longer than recommended, and CL wear overnight were considered as risk factors. Logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate the odds ratios. A total of 3803 Japanese females were analyzed. The frequency of adverse events was 33.4% (95%CI 31.3-35.4%) and 35.7% (95%CI 33.5-38.0%) for transparent and cosmetic CLs, respectively. In a multivariate model, statistically significant factors associated with complications included the following: quarterly schedule lenses, replacement at intervals longer than recommended, compliance to hygiene procedure, overnight wearing, purchase at physical shops and on the internet, and longer daily wearing time. Most of the risk-increasing behaviors are preventable. The role of public health ophthalmology is to increase awareness and to improve CL use behaviors.

Risk Factors for Contact Lens-Related Microbial Keratitis: A Case-Control Multicenter Study

PURPOSE

The most feared complication of contact lens (CL) wear is microbial keratitis (MK), even though its incidence remains low. This study aimed to identify the risk factors of CL-related MK in a large, prospective, multicenter case-control study.

METHODS

A multicenter case-control study was designed. The CL-related MK subpopulation (Case) was compared with healthy CL wearers (Control) using a 52-item anonymous questionnaire designed to determine subject demographics and lens wear history. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to compare both groups.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 499 cases and 508 controls. The risk factors associated with the greatest increased odds of CL-related MK were as follows: using disinfecting solution more than 3 months (odds ratio [OR]=1.94), cosmetic CL wear and use of multipurpose disinfection solution (1.37 each), overnight wear, and soft lens use (OR=1.24 each). The protective factors associated with the greatest reduction in OR were fitting by an ophthalmologist (OR=0.73) and hyperopia versus myopia (OR=0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

The infectious determinants were linked to the type of lenses, hygiene routine, CL handling, disinfecting solution, and storage case. This study aimed to highlight the increasingly CL-related MK, which likely occurs because of lack of patient information regarding basic rules of hygiene and CL care and handling.

Contact lens use and its compliance for care among healthcare workers in Pakistan

Background:

Poor care and hygiene of contact lens (CL) results in eye problems and infections. Healthcare workers have an important role in advocating correct lens care.

Objectives:

To determine the practices of CL care and the adverse consequences of poor CL care among healthcare workers.

Setting and Design:

A cross-sectional study in one public and three private sector hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2009–2010.

Materials and Methods:

We questioned 500 healthcare workers of all ages and both sexes, who wore CL, about compliance with advice on care and any complications due to improper hygiene practices. Ethical approval was obtained. Chi-square tests were used to determine significance and p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

Of the total CL users, 385 (77%) were females. Most (75%) respondents wore CL to correct myopia, whereas 54% wore CL only occasionally. Surprisingly, only 24% knew the CL cleaning protocol. Lens solution was changed daily by 33% of users and after more than 2 weeks by 42%. Although 412 (82%) participants practised reasonable hand hygiene before inserting CL, 88 (18%) did not. Infection and eye dryness were statistically significantly (P < 0.01) associated with sex, hand-washing, and frequency of CL use.

Conclusion:

Noncompliance with the CL protocol was common among healthcare workers in our society. This behavior calls for targeted health education and awareness programs for healthcare workers.

[Practical tips and tricks in fitting soft contact lenses]

This review is intended to give supportive information for beginners in contact lens fitting who are interested in providing a quality-related service to customers and patients. In Germany the proportion of contact lens wearers is significantly lower than in most other countries; therefore, there is a potentially fast growing market. The aim of this paper is to provide comprehensive guidelines for practitioners to develop and improve contact lens fitting practice and minimize unnecessary or preventable complications. The fundamental requirement for starting in contact lens fitting is to have correct education in the field and for the practice to be appropriately equipped. The key to providing a safe a reliable contact lens fitting practice is to continually update knowledge in the field and to maintain the practice to the highest professional standards.