Contact Lens Versus Non-Contact Lens-Related Corneal Ulcers at an Academic Center

To compare the infectious contact lens-related corneal ulcer (CLRU) and non-CLRU cases at Saint Louis University.

Retrospective review of corneal ulcer cases identified by search of the ophthalmology and microbiology department databases between 1999 and 2016.

Six hundred seventy-seven cases of corneal ulcers were identified, of which 46% were CLRU. CLRU cases were seen more commonly in younger patients (P<0.001) and women (P=0.03) than non-CLRU cases. Many of the infections were vision-threatening as defined by central/paracentral location (73% CLRU and 71% non-CLRU [P=0.60]) and large size of ulcer >2 mm in 36% CLRU and 51% non-CLRU (P=0.002). Causative pathogen in cultured CLRU was predominately Pseudomonas species (44%, P<0.001 vs. the non-CLRU group), other gram-negative (6%), gram-positive (33%), fungi (13%), and Acanthamoeba (5%). Comparatively, cultured non-CLRU was predominately gram-positive (64%, P<0.001 vs. the CLRU group), gram-negative (26%), and fungi (11%). The combined oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus isolates were 35% and 34%, respectively. Despite the progressive increase in the number of corneal ulcers seen, the annual trend for any one particular organism for either CLRU cases or non-CLRU cases did not change significantly.

Most of the cases were non-CLRU. CLRU was disproportionately associated with Pseudomonas species and non-CLRU with Staphylococcal species. Fungal infections were predominately caused by filamentous organisms in both groups. Acanthamoeba keratitis was exclusively associated with CL use.