Disposable vs. non-disposable contact lenses-the relative risk of ocular infection

The wearing of contact lenses is not without some risk. When prescribing contact lenses, several decisions must be made regarding the type of lens; for example, daily wear vs. extended wear and disposable or frequent replacement lenses vs. non-disposable or traditional (reusable) lenses. Often the decisions are based on issues of comfort, cost and/or the ability to fit the patient with one type or another. Consideration of a possible increase in the risk of ocular infection from contact lens wear is not necessarily a variable in the selection process, but maybe it should be. From the aspect of provider liability and as a public health issue, this paper will attempt to explore the relative risk of ocular infection associated with the wearing of disposable and traditional contact lenses.