Bacterial Eye Infections

Contacts & Eye Infections

Increased risk of bacterial infection is a reality with which all contact lens wearers must live. It's the reason why your optometrist lectures you every time you sheepishly admit to not cleaning them properly. Unfortunately most contact lenses wearers suffer from the "it-can't-happen-to-me" syndrome. Those who have had a contact-lens-related bacterial infection now know better than to tempt fate.

Bacteria that Cause Eye Infections

Bacterial eye infections affecting the cornea are known as microbial keratitis. Microbial keratitis is the most severe complication associated with contact lens wear. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common bacteria involved in microbial keratitis. It's also one of the most damaging. P. aeruginosa eats away at the cornea (causing corneal ulceration), which could eventually lead to vision loss and blindness. Serratia and Staphylococcus are also common causes of contact lens related eye infections.

Contact Lenses Increase Susceptibility to Eye Infections

Wearing contact lenses is stressful for your eyes, which leads to increased susceptibility to eye infections compared with non contact lens wearers. Those who wear extended-wear contacts are consequently at even greater risk.

Overnight wear of daily contact lenses which are only meant for short-term wear is the biggest risk factor for eye infections.

Other Factors that Increase Susceptibility to Eye Infections

Factors that put contact lens wearers at greater risk of bacterial eye infections include the following:

• dry eyes
• smoking
• chronic blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids)
• allergic conjunctivitis

Symptoms of Eye Infections

The first sign of an eye infection is a gritty feeling in the eye (as though there is something in your eye). This can progress to light sensitivity, red eye, blurred vision, and pain. Often contact lens wear can hide such symptoms.

Treatment of Eye Infections

If your optometrist suspects that you have an eye infection, you will most likely be treated with topical antibiotics (eye drops) and artificial tears for comfort. You will be advised not to wear your contacts while you are healing from the eye infection. Depending on the severity of the eye infection, you may be referred to a specialist.

Approximately 6% of contact lens wearers develop problems each year. Most of these problems are fairly minor. Bacterial eye infections, however, have the potential to be extremely damaging to vision. While contact lens wearers should be aware of the greater risk for eye infection, adopting a proper lens hygiene routine is often sufficient to ward off infections.