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Microbial keratitis is a rare but potentially severe sight-threatening condition, associated with societal burden, cost and morbidity. Compared with microbial keratitis without lens wear, the disease in contact lens wear is more common, occurs at an earlier age, has lower morbidity and is more often caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acanthamoeba spp. Resistance to common antibiotics is infrequent in contact lens-related isolates and there is little evidence to suggest increasing bacterial resistance over time. There is some evidence for increased reporting of cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis internationally. The incidence of contact lens-related microbial keratitis has remained stable over time. Rates vary with wear modality, with the lowest risk of severe disease in daily disposable and rigid gas permeable contact lens wear; however, there are limited studies in daily wear silicone hydrogel and in contemporary daily disposable contact lenses. Risk factors for contact lens-related microbial keratitis can be either modifiable or non-modifiable and interventions to reduce the risk of, or severity of disease may be prioritised based on the attributable risk. Key risk factors based on high attributable risk include any overnight wear, failing to wash and dry hands prior to handling lenses and poor storage case hygiene practice. The strong link between microbial keratitis and storage case hygiene and replacement suggests the relevance of microbial contamination of the storage case. Both risk factors and evidence-based strategies for limiting storage case contamination are presented, including storage case cleaning protocols and antimicrobial storage cases; however, it is unclear if such interventions can ultimately limit the rate or severity of microbial keratitis in daily wear. Emerging challenges include understanding and limiting the risk of infection associated with decorative or cosmetic contact lens wear, particularly in Asia, and in understanding the safety of contact lens modalities for myopia control in a paediatric population., (© 2020 Optometry Australia.)

Background: Because corneal infiltrative events (CIEs) may result from bacterial components on contact lenses, which can come from contaminated lens cases, we evaluated the biocidal efficacy of five multipurpose solutions against Gram-negative commonly isolated and CIE-associated organisms., Methods: Of the multipurpose solutions tested, one contained polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)/polyquaternium-1 (PQ-1; Bausch & Lomb Incorporated: Biotrue), one contained alexidine dihydrochloride (alexidine)/PQ-1 (AMO: RevitaLens OcuTec) and three contained PQ-1/myristamidopropyl dimethylamine (MAPD; Alcon: Opti-Free PureMoist, PQ-1/MAPD-1; Opti-Free RepleniSH, PQ-1/MAPD-2; Opti-Free Express, PQ-1/MAPD-3). Challenge organisms were CIE-associated Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Delftia acidovorans and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia at manufacturer-recommended durations (stand-alone), in lens cases without lenses (up to seven days) and in lens cases with etafilcon A lenses (up to 30 days)., Results: In stand-alone testing against CIE-associated organisms, PHMB/PQ-1 and alexidine/PQ-1 were significantly superior versus MAPD-based multipurpose solutions against A. xylosoxidans (all p ≤ 0.01), D. acidovorans (all p ≤ 0.001) and S. maltophilia (all p ≤ 0.05). In lens cases, PHMB/PQ-1 and alexidine/PQ-1 achieved greater than 3-log reductions against all challenge organisms at all times evaluated. PQ-1/MAPD-1 achieved a greater than 3-log reduction against D. acidovorans at 24 hours; PQ-1/MAPD-1 and PQ-1/MAPD-3 achieved greater than 3-log reductions at seven days against all organisms. In lens cases with lenses, PHMB/PQ-1 and alexidine/PQ-1 achieved greater than 3-log reductions against all organisms at all times. PQ-1/MAPD-1 and PQ-1/MAPD-3 achieved greater than 3-log reductions at seven or more days against all organisms. PQ-1/MAPD-2 did not achieve a greater than 3-log reduction at any time; some regrowth was observed., Conclusions: PHMB- and alexidine-based multipurpose solutions demonstrated significantly greater biocidal activity compared with PQ-1/MAPD-based agents against Gram-negative organisms commonly isolated and CIE-associated pathogens., (© 2017 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated. Clinical and Experimental Optometry published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Optometry Australia.)

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the disinfection properties of multipurpose contact lens disinfection solutions, based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14729 guidelines., Methods: Three lots of each of six multi-purpose solutions were tested as follows: Renu MultiPlus, Solo Care Aqua, All-Clean Soft, Contact All-in one Advanced, Hippia, Ginza multi-purpose solution and 0.9% normal saline solution were inoculated with the standard strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027). The surviving bacteria were quantified at specified times. An average logarithm reduction in bacterial numbers at the manufacturer's minimum recommended disinfection time was determined and compared with the criteria for stand-alone disinfection products for each multi-purpose disinfection solution against each bacterial strain., Results: Renu MultiPlus, Solo Care, All-Clean Soft and Contact All-in one Advanced were effective in achieving a four logarithmic units reduction in the bacterial count; however, Renu MultiPlus and Solo Care Aqua resulted in the greatest reduction in bacterial numbers. The other solutions were not effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa after specified times., Conclusions: Generally, Renu MultiPlus, Solo Care Aqua, All-Clean Soft and Contact All-in one Advanced meet the ISO 14729 guidelines for stand-alone contact lens solutions., (© 2011 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Optometry © 2011 Optometrists Association Australia.)

Purpose: The aims were to determine the level of compliance of contact lens wearers, to identify which procedures have highest levels of non-compliance and to study the effectiveness of a compliance enhancement strategy on the level of compliance., Methods: The level of compliance for each subject was evaluated with a self-administered questionnaire together with microbiological examination of their contact lenses, lens cases and lens care solutions. The effect of an intervention to improve the level of compliance was determined by a controlled trial. A regular self-review exercise on proper lens handling was given to the test group once every three months for 12 months. The levels of compliance and contamination of contact lenses and lens care accessories between test and control groups were compared at the end of the 12-month period to evaluate the effect of the intervention., Results: Sixty-five subjects who were experienced contact lens wearers were recruited and 60 completed the study. All showed some degree of non-compliance in the care of their contact lenses and lens accessories. Most (about 60 per cent) were non-compliant with at least six of a total of 15 lens care procedures. The most common non-compliant behaviour among contact lens wearers was associated with the care of the lens case. By the end of the study period, our compliance enhancement strategy did not appear to have had a significant effect on the behaviour of our subjects, except for improvement in the care of lens cases. Compliance for other procedures improved in both test and control groups., Conclusion: All subjects showed some degree of non-compliance and the spectrum of non-compliance was wide. The poorest levels of compliance were associated with care of the lens case, which was also the most frequently contaminated item. Our compliance enhancement strategy showed a significant difference in improvement in compliance between the intervention and control groups only in the care of lens cases.

This review presents a critical analysis of the literature relating to the use of binomial and polynomial classification schemes for categorising corneal infiltrative events (CIEs) associated with contact lens wear and the epidemiology of such events. The results of the Manchester Keratitis Study-a 12-month, prospective, hospital-based epidemiological study of contact lens wearer suffering from CIEs-are used as a tool to challenge and test traditional thinking in relation to contact lens associated keratitis. An innovative aspect of this study is the use of a novel clinical severity matrix to systematically score the severity of CIEs based on 10 key signs and symptoms. The ambiguities inherent in using binomial classification schemes (such as, microbial versus sterile, ulcerative versus non-ulcerative etcetera) are highlighted. The failure of a polynomial scheme-due to extensive classification overlap between proposed sub-types of CIEs-is demonstrated using a Venn diagram. A cartographic analysis reveals that infiltrates tend to occur in the superior cornea of patients wearing extended wear silicone hydrogel lenses, in the central cornea of patients wearing daily wear hydrogel daily disposable lenses and in the peripheral cornea of patients wearing daily wear hydrogel (excluding daily disposable) lenses. Infiltrates that occur more towards the limbus are less severe. The incidence of CIEs is higher when contact lenses are worn overnight. Logistic analysis reveals that the risk of developing a severe CIE is five times greater with conventional hydrogel extended wear versus silicone hydrogel extended wear. The male gender, smoking, a healthy eye and body, and the late Winter months are associated with an increased risk of developing CIEs. The rate of significant visual loss as a result of developing a CIE is low. Two key conclusions are drawn from this work, which represent a radical rethinking of this potentially sight-threatening condition. CIEs should be considered as a continuous spectrum of ocular disease. If a contact lens wearer presents with a sore eye that is becoming progressively worse and a CIE is observed in that eye, lens wear should be suspended and anti-microbial therapy initiated immediately.