Microbial flora in eyes of current and former contact lens wearers

Abstract

Microbial flora from the right eye conjunctival sac of 84 consecutively presenting contact lens patients were compared with cultures from both surfaces of their lens after aseptic removal and with the flora of their storage cases. Similar results were obtained from contact lens and conjunctival cultures of each individual; however, there was no correlation between storage case isolates and lens or conjunctival flora, suggesting that in uncomplicated lens wear, the eye is highly efficient in eradicating microorganisms introduced via handling. Conjunctival flora during daily contact lens wear was similar to the conjunctival flora of a matched control group of non-lens wearers. However, bacteria that are considered to be part of the normal ocular flora were isolated significantly more often from former contact lens wearers. The data also indicated that the use of nonperoxide chemical lens disinfection was associated with a higher proportion of positive cultures for pathogenic microorganisms than the use of other forms of disinfection, for both current and former contact lens wearers. The isolation of potential pathogens was particularly common among elderly subjects using thick contact lenses for extended wear. These changes to conjunctival flora may contribute to the increased risk of ocular infection associated with contact lens wear.

Ocular surface microbiome in meibomian gland dysfunction

“…colonization, although the low incidence of Pseudomonas in this study did not reflect this association. 34,38 Our results do support the findings of Fleiszig and Efron, however, which confirm the non-transient effect of CL wear on the microbiome, as samples were collected a minimum of 48 h after lens removal. 34 Corynebacterium and streptococci were notably low in incidence in the current subject population but have featured in reports of a number of studies globally.…”

“…34,38 Our results do support the findings of Fleiszig and Efron, however, which confirm the non-transient effect of CL wear on the microbiome, as samples were collected a minimum of 48 h after lens removal. 34 Corynebacterium and streptococci were notably low in incidence in the current subject population but have featured in reports of a number of studies globally. [21][22][23] Studies in Texas and Florida, USA [21][22][23] (Table 4) found a higher incidence of Corynebacterium spp.…”

Microbial contamination of hydrogel contact lenses

“…1987). Contaminants from the contact lens storage case have been linked to the ocular biota in lens wearers in one study (Morgan 1979); however, no such association was found in a more recent study of asymptomatic lens users (Fleiszig and Efron 1992). In the current study, disposable extended wear lens users were not using care systems or storage cases, and lens contamination reported here is free of possible influence from this source.…”

Bacterial biofilm on contact lenses and lens storage cases in wearers with microbial keratitis

“…Lens contamination is reported infrequently and involves small numbers of Gram-positive organisms, typically less than 30 colony forming units (cfu) per CL (Mowrey-McKee et al 1992;Hart et al 1993). Coagulase-negative staphylococci are the commonest organisms isolated from CLs following wear (Fleiszig and Efron 1992;Mowrey-McKee et al 1992), although occasional isolation of Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci and less frequently Gram-negative bacteria has been reported (Fleiszig and Efron 1992). Contact lens contamination is usually attributed to CL handling.…”