The risks of infection from the daily use of contact lenses

It is known that those who wear contact lenses are more prone to infections and new research sheds more light on the issue.

People who wear contact lenses every day have an increased risk of infections because the lenses can disturb the delicate balance of microorganisms that live in the eyes, carrying bacteria from the skin. Researchers led by microbiologist Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello of New York University's Langone Medical Center, who made the announcement at the American Society of Microbiology's annual conference in New Orleans, "Our research shows that putting a foreign object in the eye, such as a contact lens, is not neutral," said Dominguez-Bello. A comparison with the eyes of those who do not use contact lenses at all, shows that daily use of lenses triples the number of certain species of bacteria (methyl bacteria, lactobacilli, pseudomonas, etc.), which makes the eye more vulnerable to inflammation and infection. A study will be needed to determine whether this change in the microbiome is mainly due to the fingers touching the eyes when the lenses are placed or the constant pressure exerted by the lenses on the eyes and which in some way affects the microorganisms that live there. Ever since the introduction of soft and flexible contact lenses in the 70s, there has been an increase in eye infections caused by bacteria such as pseudomonas, which appear in greater abundance in the eyes of those who wear contact lenses constantly. Because these bacteria can come from the skin, doctors recommend a good hand wash before applying the lenses, daily changing of the lens solution and regular cleaning of the lens case. In addition, those who wear lenses daily should not use themselves for many weeks. Also, they should visit the ophthalmologist from time to time, especially if they feel discomfort in their eyes when wearing the lenses. They do not seem to have a problem. But if there are complications, they can be serious. However, the incidence of vision loss due to lenses does not exceed about six per 100.000 users per year.Source: AMPE