Journal
EYE & CONTACT LENS-SCIENCE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE
Volume 39, Issue 1, Pages 73-78Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0b013e318275b473
Keywords
Microbial keratitis; Contact lenses; Corneal epithelium; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Innate defense; Tear fluid; Lens materials
Categories
Funding
- National Eye Institute [EY011221]
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [AI079192]
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Microbial keratitis is a sight-threatening complication associated with contact lenses. The introduction of silicone hydrogel lens materials with increased oxygen transmission to the ocular surface has not significantly altered the incidence of microbial keratitis. These data suggest that alternate, or additional, predisposing factors involving lens wear must be addressed to reduce or eliminate these infections. The contact lens can provide a surface for microbial growth in situ and can also influence ocular surface homeostasis through effects on the tear fluid and corneal epithelium. Thus, it is intuitive that future contact lens materials could make a significant contribution to preventing microbial keratitis. Design of the right material to prevent microbial keratitis requires understanding the effects of current materials on bacterial virulence in the cornea and on ocular surface innate defenses. Current knowledge in each of these areas will be presented with a discussion of future directions needed to understand the influence of lens material on the pathogenesis of microbial keratitis.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available