Causes and Awareness on Contact Lens to Prevent Opportunistic Infections

Abstract

Contact lenses for visual correction offer many benefits to the 4 million wearers in the UK, yet contact lens-related microbial keratitis is a frequent cause of unilateral visual impairment.  Severe cases can result in permanent vision loss, a need for corneal transplant or loss of the eye. In all healthcare systems, contact lens-related microbial keratitis poses a significant healthcare challenge as patients require intensive topical antimicrobial therapy and close monitoring of treatment response. It is typical for contact lens storage containers to have persistent microbial contamination, which has been linked to microbial keratitis and clear corneal invasion. Contact lens-associated microbial keratitis is an interesting, potentially sight-threatening complexity arising from wearing soft contact lenses. Estimates show that for every 10,000 persons who wear contact lenses each year, there are 2 to 5 occurrences of microbial keratitis. Investigating separate determinants for contact lens-associated MK and evaluating their impact on infection load is one of the challenges in their administration. It is hoped that this will offer a useful outline of the complicated issues of contact lens wear that are both infectious and non-infectious. Recent epidemiological studies detailing the risk factors associated with contact lens use, and the effect of pathogen and individual immune profiles on the severity of diseases have enlightened how we might interpret the prophylaxis and prevention of contact lens-related corneal infection. Safe contact lenses are an effective form of vision correction for the millions of people who require them; however, they are not devoid of risks. The risk of eye infection increases due to a lack of care and personal cleanliness such as topping off storage cases with disinfection solution and washing contact lenses in fresh water. It is uncommon in this demographic to use contacts for prolonged periods or a greater variety of activities. Since contact lens technology has advanced, individuals who prefer not to wear glasses frequently select this method of vision correction.