STERILE KERATITIS RISK FACTORS

OphthalmologyVolume 116, Issue 3, March 2009, Pages 385-392

Compared with planned replacement soft CL, daily disposable lenses significantly reduced the risk of toxic/hypersensitivity, but the most commonly used brand was associated with increased risks of sterile keratitis, mechanical disorders, and a tendency for patients to have lens removal difficulties. Silicone hydrogel CL wear was free from hypoxic complications but associated with an increased risk of sterile keratitis, mechanical disorders, and attendance with any nonulcerative complication when compared with other reusable soft lenses. Significant additional risk factors were identified for sterile keratitis (overnight wear, more days per week of lens wear, poor hand hygiene, smoking, and less contact lens experience).

Conclusions
Neither of the 2 recently introduced CL modalities—daily disposable and silicone hydrogel lenses—reduced the overall risk of acute nonulcerative disorders.