Microbial contamination of cases used for storing contact lenses

Contact Lens Cases: The Missing Link in Contact Lens Safety?

“…6 -17 These studies suggest that 19% to 81% of storage cases may be contaminated with bacteria, 6 -8,10 -15 4% to 24% with amoeba, 6 -9,15,16 and 24% to 59% with fungi. 6,17 The main pathogenic organisms contaminating contact lens cases include Pseudomonas, 6,8,10,11,13 Serratia, 6,8,9,13,16 Staphylococcus, 8,13,16 Acanthamoeba, 6,7,9,16,18 and Fusarium. 17,19,20 Pseudomonas is known to cause microbial keratitis, even in small concentrations, 21,22 and can result in significant vision loss.…”

“…14,16,25,64,65 As a result, it has been proposed that wearers rinse their case with the care regimen only, 66 -70 and avoid tap water rinsing of the case. 9,60,66 After the rinsing step, it has been proposed that the cases be left open to air dry.…”

Contact Lens Storage Case Hygiene Practice and Storage Case Contamination

“…[1][2][3][4] Contamination of CL storage cases by pathogenic organisms has been implicated in corneal inflammation 5 and corneal infection. [8][9][10][11] Microbial contamination of CL cases may result in biofilm formation, which may contribute to persistent contamination of the lens cases. [8][9][10][11] Microbial contamination of CL cases may result in biofilm formation, which may contribute to persistent contamination of the lens cases.…”

In Vivo Assessment of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Silver-Impregnated Contact Lens Storage Cases

“…25,27 Microbial isolates recovered from the contaminated storage cases are often identical with those isolates recovered from the cornea in microbial keratitis. 15,34 Storage cases may be reservoirs for pathogenic microorganisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 2,3,8,35,36 Serratia marcescens, 3,12 fungi, 14,26,27 and protozoa. [25][26][27][28] Contaminants derived from the environment, multipurpose solutions, and the hands/fingers of the CL wearers might be introduced into the CL storage cases and eventually to the CLs.…”