Adherence of cysts and trophozoites of Acanthamoeba to unworn rigid gas permeable and soft contact lenses.

Contact lens related Acanthamoeba keratitis has been more often associated with the use of soft contact lenses than with the use of rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. We studied the adherence of Acanthamoeba cysts and trophozoites to unworn RGP (silicone acrylate and fluoropolymer) and low and high water content soft contact lenses marketed in India. A human corneal isolate of Acanthamoeba polyphaga suspended in saline (1 x 10(5) amoebae/mL) was used. Lens segments were exposed to A. polyphaga cysts or trophozoites with or without shaking. After exposure for zero to 7 hours, lenses were either washed or not washed and the adherence was determined using light microscopy and a hemocytometer (per square millimeter of the lens). Both cysts and trophozoites immediately adhered to all four types of lenses. Adhesion increased with an increase in exposure time. The number of adherent cysts and trophozoites was higher (P = 0.043-0.0003) in the unwashed group of lenses at all exposure times for all lenses. Among washed groups, adherence was greatest with RGP silicone acrylate and high water content soft lenses. Trophozoites of Acanthamoeba showed greater adherence to RGP lenses, whereas cysts showed greater adherence to high water content soft lenses. Shaking did not have a significant effect on adherence. Adhesion of Acanthamoeba to contact lenses may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba keratitis.