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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
08:28
Development of an In Vitro Ocular Platform to Test Contact Lenses
Published on: April 6, 2016
Risk factors for contact lens complications in US clinical practices
Robin L Chalmers1, Lisa Keay, Bill Long
1Indiana University School of Optometry, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. chalmers2097@gmail.com
Summary
Younger soft contact lens wearers and those with high refractive error face increased risks of inflammatory and infectious eye events. Most wearers, however, experience no complications over two years.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Corneal Disease
Background:
- Soft contact lenses (SCL) are widely used for vision correction.
- Understanding risk factors for SCL-related complications is crucial for patient safety and effective clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify significant risk factors associated with inflammatory and infectious events in soft contact lens wearers.
- To analyze these risk factors in a large-scale retrospective clinical chart review.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 1276 SCL wearers' charts over at least two years.
- Analysis of 306 events requiring pharmacologic treatment or SCL wear interruption.
- Multivariate analysis to determine significant risk factors for various event types.
Main Results:
- Age under 25 years significantly increased the risk of any event, inflammatory events, and infectious events.
- High ametropia (>-5.00 D) was linked to a higher risk of any event and infectious events.
- Daily disposable lens use was associated with lid irritation; new and hydrogel lens wearers showed lower event incidence.
Conclusions:
- The majority of SCL wearers (82%) experienced no complications over the study period.
- Key risk factors for SCL-related inflammatory and infectious events include high ametropia and age under 25.
- Findings align with previous prospective studies, emphasizing the importance of these risk factors in clinical practice.
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