Infective keratitis in soft contact lens wearers

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Soft contact lens wear is associated with an increased risk of microbial keratitis.
• Infective keratitis can lead to severe visual impairment or blindness.

Observation:

• Eight cases of infective keratitis were identified in soft contact lens wearers.
• Four cases involved contaminated lens solutions, affecting both continual and intermittent wearers.
• Two continual wearers experienced severe vision loss, with geographic isolation from ophthalmic services noted as a contributing factor.

Findings:

• Contaminated lens solutions were implicated in four of the eight infective keratitis cases.
• Serratia liquefaciens was identified as the causative agent in one case of corneal abscess, a rare occurrence.
• Serratia marcescens was isolated from lens solutions and cases in another patient.

Implications:

• This study underscores the critical role of proper contact lens solution disinfection in preventing microbial keratitis.
• The severity of outcomes in some cases highlights the importance of timely access to specialized ophthalmic care.
• Rare bacterial pathogens like Serratia liquefaciens can cause severe corneal infections in contact lens wearers, necessitating vigilant diagnosis and management.