by Joel Harrison
7. August 2010 13:33
Two studies conducted recently have brought surprising results concerning contact lenses and the risk of contracting a serious eye infection. It turns out that daily contact lenses do not decrease the risk of infection as it was hoped when they were introduced in 1999. In fact, gas permeable rigid contact lenses seem to be much safer.
Interestingly, though weekly and monthly soft contact lenses caused 1.5 times fewer infections, the infections caused by them were typically more severe, as they were associated with more dangerous microbes.
However, it was discovered that the biggest risk factor is not connected with the type of lenses worn but with how they are used. The individuals who do not take them off before going to sleep run a five times higher risk of contracting microbial keratitis than other contact lens wearers. Other significant risk factors include smoking, failing to replace lenses on time, and washing hands improperly before inserting contact lenses.
The results of the studies need to be put in perspective, though. After all, microbial keratitis affects only 1 in 2,000 contact lens wearers, so 99.95% of us will never experience such serious side effects.
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