Effects of refrigeration on daily microbial bioburden of hydrogel lenses

Microbial bioburden of contact lenses was evaluated in connection with lens care by refrigeration. Subjects wore new hydrogel contact lenses for approximately 8 hours. The microbial bioburden initially and after an overnight refrigeration of the lens was evaluated with the use of viable counts on three different media. No major changes in viable counts were observed resulting from this method of storage. Scanning electron microscopy indicated the presence of foreign material on both new and worn lenses, presumed to be debris from lens manufacture and mucoid deposits from daily wear. Microbial colonization was not apparent and single bacterial cells could not be discerned on the micrographs.