Keratitis Risk Increases 10-Fold with Extended Wear CLs

“The risk of contact lens-related infectious keratitis is increased 10-fold among extended-wear contact lens users, a speaker said here,” according to Ocular Surgery News. “'It’s not a common disease, infection related to contact lenses,'” Douglas R. Lazzaro, MD, said at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting. “'There have been a lot of studies going back almost 30 years. [The risk] is about three to five cases per 10,000 in daily wear users.'” Lazzaro said a study found that the risk of infectious keratitis is increased 10-fold among patients who use extended-wear lenses once or twice in a 30-day period. Risk factors for contact lens-associated infectious keratitis include hypoxia, inappropriate lens fit and extended-wear use. Steroids and tobacco use also increase the risk of infectious keratitis, Lazzaro said.” Read more.