The risk of getting a rare eye infection increases nearly fourfold if you are using soft reusable contact lenses versus using soft but disposable ones; these are the sad findings of research conducted by the University College London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, where researchers have studied what factors can increase a person’s risk of being diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), with the article being published in Ophthalmology.
“In recent years we have seen an increase in Acanthamoeba keratitis in the UK and Europe and, although the infection is still rare, it is preventable and justifies a public health response”
said the lead researcher John Dart in a declarationwho later added:
“Contact lenses are generally very safe, but are associated with a small risk of microbial keratitis, most commonly caused by bacteria, and which is the only sight-threatening complication of their use. Given that around 300 million people around the world wear contact lenses, it is important that people know how to minimize the risk of developing keratitis ”.
Dart and colleagues recruited over 200 patients, 83 of whom had Acanthamoeba keratitis while the other 122 were taken to Moorfields Eye Hospital for other conditions, and the latter acted as a control group so researchers could try. to determine which risk factors increased a person’s likelihood of contracting corneal infection, and whether reusable contact lenses were indeed a determining factor.
The study and correlation with reusable contact lenses
Their results showed that reusable soft contact lens wearers were 3.8 times more likely to develop AK than daily disposable lens wearers. Sleeping and showering in lenses also increased the risk by 3.9 and 3.3 times, respectively. According to their estimates, the researchers found that 30-62 perfect AK cases in the UK could be prevented by switching to daily disposable lenses, which could very well be the case in other countries as well.
“Previous studies have linked AK to the use of contact lenses in hot tubs, pools or lakes, and here we have added showers to that list, pointing out that exposure to water when wearing lenses should be avoided, ”said first author, associate professor Nicole Carnt of the University of New South Wales, Sydney and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital. “Public swimming pools and coastal authorities could help reduce this risk by advising against swimming with contact lenses.”
Although vision loss from AK is rare, it can occur in severe cases, which is why the team wanted to investigate possible risk factors further. In the UK, around 1 in 20,000 contact lens wearers are diagnosed with AK each year, but the team hopes that simple interventions can lower that statistic somewhat.
“Contact lens packaging should include lens safety and risk prevention information, even as simple as ‘waterless’ stickers on each case, particularly as many people buy lenses online without speaking to a healthcare provider,” concluded Dart.
“Basic contact lens hygiene measures can go a long way to avoid infections, such as washing and drying your hands thoroughly before putting on your lenses.”
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