Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing
Published on: May 5, 2022
Pseudomonas keratitis associated with daily wear of silicone hydrogel contact lenses
Muriel M Schornack1, Lisa J Faia, Gregory J Griepentrog
1Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. schornack.muriel@mayo.edu
Insights
Silicone hydrogel contact lenses may reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of Pseudomonas keratitis. Daily wear of these lenses still carries a risk of microbial keratitis, necessitating further research.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Silicone hydrogel contact lenses offer increased oxygen permeability compared to traditional hydrogel lenses.
- Pseudomonas keratitis is a serious microbial infection of the cornea, often associated with contact lens wear.
Observation:
- Two cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis are presented in patients wearing silicone hydrogel contact lenses on a daily wear schedule.
- Case 1: A 13-year-old female developed a corneal ulcer after 4 months of daily wear.
- Case 2: A 58-year-old female developed an epithelial defect and stromal infiltrate 6 months after switching to silicone hydrogel lenses.
Findings:
- Both patients' corneal ulcers were culture-positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Both ulcers responded to fortified antibiotic treatment, with complete resolution.
- Visual acuity outcomes were good, with final best-corrected visual acuities of 20/25 and 20/30.
Implications:
- While silicone hydrogel lenses may lower the risk of keratitis, they do not eliminate it.
- Further research is needed to quantify the risk of keratitis with daily wear of silicone hydrogel lenses.
- Identifying specific risk factors for complications associated with daily wear silicone hydrogel lenses is crucial.
Purpose:
To report two cases of pseudomonas keratitis associated with daily wear of silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
Methods:
Medical records of two patients who developed pseudomonas keratitis while wearing silicone hydrogel lenses on a daily-wear schedule are reviewed and discussed.
Results:
A 13-year-old girl who wore ACUVUE Advance lenses (Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Jacksonville, FL) 12 to 14 hours daily developed a paracentral corneal ulcer in her left eye 4 months after beginning contact lens use. Cultures were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The ulcer responded to fortified antibiotics and resolved in 10 days. Best-corrected visual acuity after resolution of the ulcer was 20/25. A 58-year-old woman with a 30-year history of rigid gas-permeable contact lens wear was refitted with O2 Optix lenses (CIBA Vision, Duluth, GA). Six months later, she had a 4.9 x 4.0 mm epithelial defect with an underlying stromal infiltrate in the right eye. Cultures were positive for P. aeruginosa. The ulcer responded to fortified antibiotics and resolved in 30 days. Best-corrected visual acuity after resolution of the ulcer was 20/30.
Conclusions:
Increased oxygen permeability associated with silicone hydrogel contact lenses may reduce, but does not eliminate, the risk of pseudomonas keratitis. Studies have yet to quantify the risk of keratitis associated with daily wear of these lens materials. Further study is necessary to identify the risks of complications with daily wear of silicone hydrogel lenses and to determine which factors may contribute to those risks.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Microbiome of the Eye
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
01:28Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment