Showering with lenses multiplies by 7 the risk of developing an eye infection, also called keratitis.
- Eyesight problems have been on the rise for several years.
- Nearly one in five French people say they wear contact lenses to correct their sight (18%). It is the 45-54 year olds who are the most adept at contact lenses, since 26% of them wear them.
- Wearing lenses is strongly discouraged in the shower or when swimming because of the bacteria present in the water.
Faced with the many cases of eye infections (or keratitis) due to the wearing of contact lenses, researchers evaluated the most risky hygiene habits.
“Microbial keratitis is a complication of contact lens wear that can affect sight. It affects thousands of patients and represents a significant burden on health services,” specify the scientists in the preamble. “This study aims to identify risk factors” keratitis, they add. Two groups were recruited for the research: the first consisted of contact lens wearers with keratitis, and the second of healthy contact lens wearers. All were questioned about their lifestyle.
Do not sleep with your contact lenses
Conclusion: showering with contact lenses multiplies the risk of developing an eye infection by 7. Sleeping without removing contact lenses has also been identified as an important risk factor. The age group most affected by keratitis was 25-54 years old.
Wearing your lenses in the pool, sea or lakes can also lead to infections due to bacteria present in the water. Also beware of disinfectant products for lenses, some of which, too powerful and too aggressive, can not only degrade their corrective effect but also cause eye irritation.
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