Thessaloniki Aristoteles University, Department of Ophthalmology, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Southampton University Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Turk J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jun 21;53(3):136-141. doi: 10.4274/tjo.galenos.2023.73184.
Microbial keratitis can cause significant visual morbidity and is a common reason for presentation to eye casualty clinics. Contact lens wear and poor contact lens hygiene significantly increase the risk of corneal infection. This study aimed to determine the level of contact lens hygiene awareness amongst contact lens wearers attending our service and determining whether contact lens type and hygiene attitude are related to severity of disease.
This prospective questionnaire-based study included 50 consecutive patients attending the eye casualty clinic of a tertiary referral center. Visual acuity was assessed at presentation and 2 weeks after diagnosis. Patients were divided into subgroups according to contact lens type (monthly, bi-weekly, daily, and extended day and night wear) and risk group (low, medium, and high) depending on their contact lens hygiene practices.
Thirty-four women and 16 men were included in this study. Twenty-four patients used monthly disposable contact lenses, 16 used daily disposable contact lenses, 6 were using bi-weekly replacement lenses, and 4 patients were using extended wear (day and night) contact lenses. Twenty-five patients were diagnosed with corneal ulcer, 23 of which had some degree of poor contact lens hygiene. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) significantly improved after treatment. Mean BCVA was 0.24 LogMAR before treatment and 0.09 LogMAR after treatment (p<0.05).
Our study highlights the need to improve contact lens hygiene awareness and influence hygiene practices. Patients with the poorest contact lens hygiene had slower visual recovery and a higher prevalence of corneal ulcer. Contact lens hygiene advice needs to be clear and reinforced over time.
微生物角膜炎可导致严重的视力损害，是眼外伤门诊常见的就诊原因。隐形眼镜佩戴和不良的隐形眼镜护理会显著增加角膜感染的风险。本研究旨在确定在我们的服务中接受检查的隐形眼镜佩戴者对隐形眼镜护理意识的水平，并确定隐形眼镜类型和护理态度是否与疾病的严重程度有关。
这是一项前瞻性基于问卷调查的研究，共纳入了 50 名连续就诊于三级转诊中心眼外伤诊室的患者。在就诊时和诊断后 2 周评估视力。根据隐形眼镜类型（月抛型、两周抛型、日抛型和长戴型）和护理实践的风险等级（低、中、高）将患者分为亚组。
本研究共纳入 34 名女性和 16 名男性患者。24 名患者使用月抛型隐形眼镜，16 名患者使用日抛型隐形眼镜，6 名患者使用两周抛型隐形眼镜，4 名患者使用长戴型（日夜型）隐形眼镜。25 名患者被诊断为角膜溃疡，其中 23 名患者存在不同程度的不良隐形眼镜护理习惯。治疗后最佳矫正视力（BCVA）显著提高。治疗前平均 BCVA 为 0.24 LogMAR，治疗后为 0.09 LogMAR（p<0.05）。
本研究强调了提高隐形眼镜护理意识和影响护理习惯的必要性。隐形眼镜护理习惯最差的患者视力恢复较慢，角膜溃疡的患病率更高。需要提供清晰且不断强化的隐形眼镜护理建议。
