CDC: improper contact lens care can lead to blindness

Date: Nov-14-2014 Keratitis is a painful and sometimes blinding eye condition

that occurs when the cornea becomes infected with bacteria, fungi and

other microbes. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention shows that one of the main reasons Americans

make nearly a million doctor visits for keratitis every year is contact lens

wear.

The CDC warn that if individuals who wear contact lenses do not take proper care of them, they may be at increased risk of keratitis.

Contact lenses - worn by around 38 million Americans - are a popular

alternative to wearing glasses. But improper care of contact lenses can

cause eye infections like keratitis, which can lead to blindness.

Dr. Jennifer R. Cope, a medical epidemiologist of the

National Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and

co-author of a new CDC
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on keratitis in

the US, says:

"Contact lenses offer wearers good sight without the hassle of

glasses, but they can also make wearers more prone to infection if

they're not careful. Users should follow good hygiene and care steps

every time they wear, clean and store their contacts to help keep their

eyes healthy."

The CDC estimate that every year, nearly a million doctor visits in

the US are for keratitis, incurring a direct health care cost of $175

million.

Most cases of keratitis - if caught early - are easily treated. If

untreated, the condition can lead to inflammation, pain and even blindness.

Anyone who develops pain or inflammation in the eyes should see

their doctor immediately - especially if they wear contact lenses -

warn the CDC. Their new MMWR report states that contact lens wear

is one of the primary culprits in cases of keratitis.

The authors note that:

"Among the estimated 38 million contact lens wearers in the US, poor storage case hygiene, infrequent storage case replacement and overnight lens wear are established preventable risk factors for microbial keratitis, contact lens-related inflammation and other eye complications."

Good hygiene habits for contact lens wearers

The CDC recommend the following steps to ensure good hygiene and

habits in caring for and storing contact lenses in order to minimize

the risk of keratitis:

Wash hands with soap and water and dry them well before touching

contact lenses
Rub and rinse contact lenses in disinfecting solution every time

you remove them
Use only the contact lens solution recommended by an eye care

provider
Never top up the solution in the contact lens case; always use a

fresh batch each time and never mix fresh solution with old or used

solution
Never use water or saliva to clean contact lenses and never store

them in water
Do not sleep in contact lenses unless prescribed to do so by an eye

care provider
Keep water away from contact lenses and take them out before

showering, swimming or using a hot tub
Take care of the contact lens case: rub and

rinse it with contact lens solution, dry it with a clean tissue and store

it upside down with the caps off after each use
Replace the contact lens case with a new one every 3

months
Visit an eye care provider at least every year, or more often if

your health care provider recommends it
Ask your eye care provider about how to care for your contact lenses and

supplies
If you experience pain, discomfort, redness in the eye or

blurred vision, take your lenses out straight away and call an eye care

provider
Carry a pair of glasses with you in case you need to take out your

lenses.

In April 2014, Medical News Today reported new research

that shows bacteria survive longer in

contact lens cleaning solution than previously thought. The

researchers found that one type of bacteria - associated

with a more severe case of keratitis that takes longer to heal - was

able to survive for over 4 hours, much longer than the 10 minutes it

takes to kill the majority of bacteria found in contact lenses.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

Not to be reproduced without permission.

Follow @twitter

window.twttr = (function (d, s, id) {
var t, js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src= "https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
return window.twttr || (t = { _e: [], ready: function (f) { t._e.push(f) }
}(document, "script", "twitter-wjs"));

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.