Abstract
Purpose: :
Microbial keratitis (MK) is a significant health concern for the million wearers of contact lenses (CL) with some potentially modifiable risk factors. The aims of our study are to put into perspective the individual risk and the societal burden of contact lens-related microbial keratitis.
Methods: :
A prospective multicenter study was conducted in 9 French University Hospital Centers (Besançon, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Nancy, Nantes, Paris, Marseille and Strasbourg) on all CL wearers presenting with MK between July 2007 and October 2008. Patients were interviewed by a 50 items anonymous standardised "questionnaire" to determine subject demographics and CL wear history.
Results: :
During the survey period, 215 patients presented with MK. Cases mostly involved young (29,7 years) women (Sex ratio: 2,3/1) wearing CL for refractive purpose (89%) or cosmetic plano CL (11%). The vast majority of cases occured with disposable soft CL (96%) and mainly with hydrogel CL (70% versus 30% silico-hydrogel CL). Twenty percent of the patients declared an overnight wear and 20% frequently omitted their replacement schedule. CL was prescribed by an ophthalmologist in 66% of the cases. However, lens care instructions were mostly explained by the opticians . Hand cleaning was forgotten in about 35% of the patients. Only 45% of the patients did usually "rub and rinse" their CL with cleaning solution.
Conclusions: :
The degree of non-compliance amongst CL wearers complicating with MK was about 70% in our study. Identification of risk factors may allow practitioners to provide better information and informed consent to patients.
Keywords: contact lens • keratitis • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment