Bacterial adherence to contact lenses
Dart, J.K.; Badenoch, P.R.
Clao Journal Official Publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists Inc 12(4): 220-224
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0733-8902 PMID: 3098448 Document Number: 273491
The adherence of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to contact lenses was quantified in vitro. One group of never-worn hard lenses and three groups of soft lenses, with different degrees of ocular surface deposits, were used. S. aureus adhered more than P. aeruginosa to all lens groups. S. aureus (but not P. aeruginosa) was more adherent to the hard lens group than to the soft lens groups. Adherence was not affected by ocular deposits on the soft lenses. The preponderance of Pseudomonas infection reported in bacterial keratitis among soft lens wearers cannot be explained by preferential adherence of these organisms to lenses. Commensal bacteria adhered to hard and soft lenses in normal use. This may be important in the pathogenesis of sterile corneal infiltrates and red eye in lens wearers.