British researchers recently indicated that people who wear reusable contact lenses are at greater risk of developing amoebic keratitis, a serious eye infection. Explanations on the causes of this eye disease.
- To treat amoebic keratitis, an ophthalmologist prescribes antimicrobial drugs applied in the form of eye drops for six months to a year.
- Contact lens wearers are more likely to develop amoebic keratitis, according to various scientific studies.
Amoebic keratitis is a rare infection of the cornea, the transparent layer in front of the iris and pupil of the eye. It is caused by the species Acanthamoebaand leads painful corneal ulceration. This condition can also result in red eyes, excessive tearing, a foreign body sensation in the eye, and pain when exposed to bright light. In the absence of treatment and in the most serious cases, this infection can lead to loss of sight.
An increase in cases of amoebic keratitis
People who wear contact lenses are more likely to develop amoebic keratitis. “In recent years, we have seen an increase in amoebic keratitis. Although the infection remains rare, it is preventable and warrants public health action,” said Professor John Dart, ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London (United Kingdom), to Mail Online. In a study published in the journal scientific Ophthalmologythis British researcher and his team have identified the potential causes that may be responsible for amoebic keratitis.
For the purposes of this research, the scientists studied the hospital records of patients wearing daily or reusable contact lenses who had been admitted to an emergency department in the south-east of England. Patients completed a questionnaire about the type of contact lenses they wore and their daily activities.
What are the factors favoring the occurrence of amoebic keratitis?
Nearly 83 cases of amoebic keratitis were identified between January 2011 and August 2014. Among these patients, 20 individuals were users of daily lenses and the other 63 people used soft or rigid reusable lenses. According to the results, the risk of developing this corneal infection was 284% higher in patients with reusable lenses compared to those who wore daily lenses.
During the study, the researchers also assessed situations that could favor the appearance of amoebic keratitis. According to their conclusions, it is better to avoid any exposure to water when wearing contact lenses. “Previous studies have linked amoebic keratitis to wearing contact lenses in hot baths, swimming pools or lakes. We’ve added showers to this list”has explained Professor John Dart.
