by Joel Harrison
4. July 2012 08:24

Two American researchers, A.F. Smith and G. Orsborn, have carried out a study examining the yearly costs of illness associated with corneal infiltrative events resulting from contact lens wear in the USA.
The scientists analysed the American population of contact lens wearers, which consists of around 35 million patients. They reviewed all the data on the prevalence of contact lens-related corneal infiltrative events and estimated their costs.
In total, there were 17,248 (cost per case: $1,496.00) severe CL-related corneal infiltrative events and 32,031 non-severe ones (cost per case: $1,002.90) in the US in 2010, which cost approximately $58 million altogether.
The estimated costs represent the economic burden imposed on patients and the healthcare system in the USA. According to Smith and Orsborn, there are several ways to lower these costs: popularising the use of daily disposable contact lenses, educating patients and promoting better lens care regimens as well as application of more effective antibiotics in the treatment of contact lens complications.