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Contact lens-induced papillary conjunctivitis (CLPC) continues to be a major cause of dropout during extended wear of contact lenses. This retrospective study explores risk factors for the development of CLPC during extended wear of silicone hydrogel lenses.Data from 205 subjects enrolled in the Longitudinal Analysis of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens study wearing lotrafilcon A silicone hydrogel lenses for up to 30 days of continuous wear were used to determine risk factors for CLPC in this secondary analysis of the main cohort. The main covariates of interest included substantial lens-associated bacterial bioburden and topographically determined lens base curve-to-cornea fitting relationships. Additional covariates of interest included history of adverse events, time of year, race, education level, gender, and other subject demographics. Statistical analyses included univariate logistic regression to assess the impact of potential risk factors on the binary CLPC outcome and Cox proportional hazards regression to describe the impact of those factors on time-to-CLPC diagnosis.Across 12 months of follow-up, 52 subjects (25%) experienced CLPC. No associations were found between the CLPC development and the presence of bacterial bioburden, lens-to-cornea fitting relationships, history of adverse events, gender, or race. Contact lens-induced papillary conjunctivitis development followed the same seasonal trends as the local peaks in environmental allergens.Lens fit and biodeposits, in the form of lens-associated bacterial bioburden, were not associated with the development of CLPC during extended wear with lotrafilcon A silicone hydrogel lenses.

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of high-plus contact lenses as a form of optical penalization in children with unilateral aphakia. Methods An internal database review was used to identify 10 patients with unilateral aphakia after congenital cataract extraction who underwent treatment with a high-plus contact lens in their sound eye after a period of failure with traditional occlusive patching. The details surrounding the switch from patching to optical penalization with contact lens were recorded along with related changes in compliance and any demonstrable effect suggestive of an improvement in visual ability. Results After an average 15-month delay between the end of occlusive patching and the start of optical penalization with high-plus contact lenses, 6 of 10 patients achieved good compliance with high-plus contact lens therapy and most families were able to successfully administer the lenses according to the prescribed regimen. Three patients showed evidence of a fixation switch to the contact-lens-corrected aphakic eye during optical penalization of the sound eye. No safety issues were reported. Conclusion Using a high-plus contact lens to optically penalize the sound eye of a unilaterally aphakic child seems to have the potential as an effective alternative to occlusive patching for those with compliance issues. A prospective study is warranted to assess long-term safety, and above all, efficacy in visual outcome.

Purpose During wear of contact lenses on a daily wear basis, it is necessary to disinfect the lens overnight before reinserting the lens the next day. The ability of the solutions used for this to disinfect lenses and lens cases is important for safe lens wear. Methods The literature on the disinfecting ability of multipurpose disinfecting solutions (MPDS) commonly used with silicone hydrogel lenses reported during the period 2000 to 2012 is reviewed, as this is the period of time during which these lenses have been commercially available. Particular emphasis is placed on the ability of disinfecting solutions to control colonization of lens cases by microbes and changes in composition and use of the solutions. In addition, the literature is reviewed on ways of minimizing lens case microbial contamination. Results Maintaining the hygiene of contact lenses and lens cases is important in minimizing various forms of corneal infiltrative events that occur during lens wear. Although lens case contamination is not associated with different lenses, it is determined by use of different MPDS. MPDS that allow more frequent or heavy contamination of cases by Gram-negative bacteria are associated with a higher incidence of corneal infiltrative events. MPDS are now available that contain dual disinfectants. Wiping lens cases with tissues or using lens cases that incorporate silver are associated with reductions in contamination in clinical trials. Similarly, using MPDS to rub and rinse lenses before disinfection may reduce levels of microbes on lenses. The MPDS also contain surfactants that help reduce deposition and denaturation of proteins on lenses. Conclusions Improvements in MPDS formulations and hygiene practices may help to reduce the incidence of adverse events that are seen during use with silicone hydrogel lenses.

To determine whether carriage of microbes on the contact lens or ocular surfaces during extended wear (EW) with soft hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-based contact lenses predisposes the wearer to adverse events.Participants (non-contact lens wearers) were enrolled in a clinical study involving wear of HEMA-based hydrogel lenses on a six night EW basis with weekly replacement. Type and number of bacteria colonizing the lower lid margins, upper bulbar conjunctiva, and contact lenses during EW after one night, 1 week, 1 month, and thereafter every 3 months for 3.5 years were determined. The association of bacteria with adverse responses was compared between carriers (defined as having significant microbes cultured from two or more samples with 1 year) and noncarriers, and the strength of the association was estimated using multivariate logistic regression.Carriers of gram-positive bacteria on lenses (particularly coagulase negative staphylococci or Corynebacterium spp.) were approximately three and eight times more likely to develop contact lens-induced peripheral ulcers (CLPUs) and asymptomatic infiltrates (AIs), respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was most frequently isolated from lenses during CLPU. Carriers of gram-negative bacteria on lenses were five times more likely to develop contact lens-induced acute red eye (CLARE). Haemophilus influenzae was isolated most frequently from lenses during CLARE and AI events.Bacterial carriage on contact lenses during EW predisposes the wearer to the development of corneal inflammatory events including CLARE, CLPU, and AI.

Purpose To identify microbiologic characteristics of infectious keratitis associated with contact lenses. Methods The authors retrospectively examined the microorganism isolated from patients with microbial corneal ulcer associated with contact lenses during a 5-year period. Herpetic and other viral infections were excluded from this study. Patient age, sex, type of contact lens, and isolated organisms were collected from medical records. Results Sixty-seven eyes of 66 patients (54.5%) who possibly had contact lens-induced infectious keratitis were reviewed. Cultures of corneal scrapings or eye discharge were positive in 30 (44.8%) of 67 eyes. A total of 35 strains of bacteria were detected, among which there were 29 (82.9%) gram-positive bacteria, two (5.7%) gram-negative bacteria, three (8.6%) fungi, and one (2.9%) species of Acanthamoeba. The most common type of contact lens was a conventional soft contact lens (25 eyes, including extended wear in seven eyes), whereas hard contact lenses, including rigid gas-permeable contact lenses, were worn in 19 eyes. In addition, frequent-replacement lenses were used in 17 eyes, whereas weekly lenses and daily lenses were used for three eyes each. The largest age group was the 20s for all types of lenses. Conclusions The results of isolation and culture are essential for improving the cure rate, especially for patients who have severe corneal ulcers.

Contact lenses have assisted the refractive correction of keratoconus since the 19th century. In these case reports, the authors describe their experience with a new soft contact lens design. METHODS: The Soft K is a new soft lens comprising a thick fenestrated design to fit in patients with mild to moderate corneal distortion and fitting problems or physical intolerance to rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Three eyes with mild keratoconus from two 25-year-old patients (one man and one woman) were fitted with the Soft K contact lens. Both patients had previously worn other contact lens types. RESULTS: Improvements in comfort and quality of vision compared with previously worn RGP or soft toric contact lenses were the most remarkable advantages objectively observed and subjectively described by both patients. For one patient, a professional soccer player, the benefits were also important in terms of compatibility with the dynamic environment of his activity, satisfying the need for stable correction and constant full field-of-view demand without spectacles. No physiologic complications such as edema or neovascularization were observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: This new soft lens design for irregular corneas is especially indicated for those with intolerance to RGP or other contact lenses and for patients for whom RGP lenses do not satisfy the dynamic environment inherent to some professional or leisure activities, particularly sport activity. This is a good option to consider in patients with mild to moderate keratoconus and good correction of slight or moderate irregular corneal astigmatism with good tolerance. Aftercare implications are also discussed., This study was supported in part by a grant from the Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) - Ministry of Science and Superior Education (MCES) under contract 8281/2002 from the European Social Funding granted to JMG-M.

PURPOSE To evaluate attitudes toward current treatments for vision correction in a clinical population of adults wearing spectacles and contact lenses (CLs). METHODS Patients seen in the Indiana University Contact Lens and Primary Care Clinics in the spring of 2002 completed multiple-choice questionnaires evaluating their current device for vision, comfort, convenience, health and safety, cost, and overall satisfaction. They also rated their interest in and the convenience and health and safety of 30-day continuous wear (CW), 7-day extended wear (EW), modern orthokeratology, and LASIK and were given a forced choice on their preferred method of vision correction. RESULTS Three hundred forty-nine CL and 177 primary care patients completed questionnaires. Subjects reported high satisfaction with their current treatment. Seventy percent of glasses wearers were neutral or not interested in CLs or LASIK. CL patients were interested or very interested in orthokeratology (70%) followed by LASIK (65%), 7-day EW (51%), and 30-day CW (44%). Age and sex were the most significant factors that influenced wearing practices and attitudes, with males (especially young) indicating significantly higher use of EW than females (P = 0.0005, chi(2)). Males were also more interested in 7-day EW (P = 0.011) and 30-day CW (P = 0.001) and rated their health and safety higher (P = 0.045 and P = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In the spring of 2002, many of these patients remained cautious about the health and safety of 7-day EW and 30-day CW CLs.

Purpose To investigate the effect of 30-day continuous-wear contact lenses (Focus Night & Day) on corneal thickness and physiology. Methods Twenty-six myopic eyes with no history of contact lens wear were fitted with silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Complete ophthalmologic examinations, corneal topography, and corneal thickness measurements at the center and eight peripheral areas were performed before fitting and at each visit, namely on day 1, day 10, and 1 month. Mean corneal thicknesses were statistically compared by using one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results All patients maintained their 20/20 vision with correction. Limbal vascularization was noted in one patient at the end of the study. No patient had subjective complaints. In another patient, a punctate corneal epithelial defect was noted on the 15th day, but it healed when the contact lens was removed for a day. The mean corneal thicknesses in different regions were significantly increased by approximately 14 to 38 microm compared with baseline measurements. There were no significant differences between the corneal topography taken on the first day and the one taken at the end of the first month. Conclusions All patients maintained their visual acuity. Apart from the limbal vascularization and punctate epithelial corneal defects, which resolved when the contact lens was removed for 1 day, no serious complications were noted. Despite the high oxygen permeability of the monthly Night & Day contact lenses, the mean central and peripheral corneal thicknesses increased. These increases indicate that these lenses may have an effect on corneal metabolism.

The current study evaluates the response of the ocular surface to extended contact lens wear by comparing a new silicone hydrogel lens to an ACUVUE 2 lens.Twenty subjects with an average age of 28 years were randomly assigned to a fitting with ACUVUE 2 or PureVision lenses. Ocular surface assessment by impression cytology was performed at baseline and for the 6 months after initiation of lens wear.Although goblet cell density significantly increased with wear time, no statistically significant difference was observed between the contact lens groups. The average baseline goblet cell percentages were as follows: ACUVUE 2 group, 1.44; PureVision group, 1.11. The 6-month averages were as follows: ACUVUE 2 group, 3.16; PureVision group, 2.22.It appears that silicone hydrogel lenses may be slightly less irritating to the ocular surface than lenses not containing silicone. This could be a promising indicator for successful 30-day continuous wear.

Purpose. This article reports clinical results comparing a high-oxygen permeable (HDk) silicone hydrogel soft contact lens with a low-oxygen permeable (LDk) soft hydroxyethyl methacrylate contact lens when worn on an extended-wear basis. Methods. Six practitioners in France enrolled 134 subjects in this 4-month, open-label, multicenter, prospective, randomized, cross-over study. Subjects were randomized to receive either an HDk lotrafilcon A or an LDk etafilcon A soft contact lens. Subjects crossed over to the alternative lens after either 3 months' experience with the HDk lens or 1 month's experience with the LDk lens. Clinical and subjective data were collected at scheduled follow-up visits. Results. The subjective data has been reported in a separate article. Both types of lenses gave similar performance for visual acuity. Biomicroscopic examination findings averaged below grade 1 (trace) for both lenses throughout the study. A statistically significant difference for limbal redness was found at 1 week (HDk = 0.11; LDk = 0.33; paired-t test, P

High Dk silicone hydrogel lenses have overcome many of the hypoxic problems associated with traditional extended wear, and the popularity of continuous wear with these lens types is increasing. Despite the elimination of hypoxia, several noninflammatory clinical complications have been reported to occur as a result of mechanical disturbances or trauma when wearing silicone hydrogel lenses. This article reviews the origin and presentation of mucin balls, superior epithelial arcuate lesions, contact lens papillary conjunctivitis, and corneal erosions in silicone hydrogel lens wearers. A number of management strategies and approaches to minimize the occurrence of these clinical complications are also discussed.

Purpose. To establish equivalent safety and efficacy of the clinical performance of a novel hyper-O 2 transmissible rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lens (Menicon Z, tisilfocon A) when worn continuously for 30 days (29 nights) when compared with a conventional control hydrogel lens (Acuvue; etafilcon A) worn for 7 days (6 nights). Methods. This study was a prospective, open-label, 24-center, concurrent, cohort-controlled clinical trial. This abbreviated report will focus on the length of wear achieved, slitlamp findings, and adverse event rates. Results. Two-thirds (66.5%) of patients wearing the RGP lens achieved greater than or equal to 22 nights of continuous wear; slitlamp observations revealed two categories of findings: those associated with lens modality and those with lens wearing time. Adverse events were mostly associated with foreign body abrasions for RGP lenses, whereas the hydrogel lens showed a higher number of bacterial infections. Conclusion. The results of this study revealed some interesting differences in the classification and severity of findings. The results demonstrate that the continuous wear of Menicon Z (tisilfocon A) RGP lenses for up to 30 nights is a safe and equivalent alternative to 7-day (6 nights) hydrogel wear lenses.

Purpose. This study was conducted to measure the corneal thickness changes associated with wearing 30-day tisilfocon A (Dk = 163) and 6-day etafilcon A (Dk = 28) contact lenses. The probable cause of the outcomes is discussed. Methods. Thirty subjects were fitted with Menicon Z rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses and a control group (n = 30) was fitted with ACUVUE hydrogel lenses, at two study sites. After a 2-week period of daily wear, subjects began prolonged wear. Measurements were performed at the dispensing visit, and then at the 2-week daily wear, the 1-week. 6-month, and 12-month extended- and continuous-wear visits. Results. Repeated measures analysis of covariance was performed on mean corneal thickness. There was a significant increase in corneal thickness in the hydrogel lens extended-wear group compared to the RGP group (P = 0.03). The mean corneal thickness in the ACUVUE group was 2.58% higher at the 2-week daily wear visit, 2.38% higher at the 1-week extended-wear visit, 2.96% higher at the 6-month, and 2.97% higher at the 1-year visit compared to the RGP continuous-wear patients. Discussion. Patients wearing high-Dk RGP contact lenses for continuous wear may have thinner corneas (within the normal thickness range) probably because of minimal hypoxia-induced corneal stromal swelling; RGP-induced reversible corneal epithelial compression; deceased epithelial sloughing; or long-term contact lens-induced keratocyte apoptosis. Patients wearing hydrogel contact lenses for extended wear may have thicker corneas because of hypoxia-induced corneal stromal swelling. Additional evidence of corneal hypoxic stress is seen in the higher prevalence of striae and epithelial microcysts in the hydrogel group and greater variability of corneal thickness measurements in the soft contact lens group in our results.

Purpose To review the options for preventing the development of microbial keratitis during contact lens wear. Methods A sequence of events that result in the production of microbial keratitis is presented. A review of published material was conducted using key words such as antimicrobial, silver, antibiotic, antibacterial, and contact lens(es). Results of the searches were examined, and strategies for reducing microbial keratitis were identified and classified into various groupings. Results Ways of minimizing bacterial adhesion to and colonization of contact lenses were considered the only viable preventative strategies currently being investigated by research groups and industry. The mechanisms that are being trialed include alternative disinfecting systems in contact lens cleaning and disinfecting multipurpose solutions and silver-containing contact lens cases that have been reported to reduce bacterial colonization of cases. In addition, and importantly for extended wear of lenses, industry and research groups have been investigating antimicrobial contact lenses. Strategies include the use of the antimicrobial agents silver, chitosan, polyquats, cationic peptides, furanones, and selenium. Conclusions Although many strategies are being investigated, to date there are no published studies examining the effectiveness of any of these strategies to reduce the rate of microbial keratitis. Such studies are likely to occur only once the strategies are available commercially because of the low rate of microbial keratitis, even during extended wear. However, it is possible that studies examining the rate of microbially driven adverse responses, such as contact lens-induced red eye, may yield valuable information of success of these proposed interventions.

Purpose. For 14 years, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and eye care practitioners have strongly discouraged patients from sleeping in contact lenses. In the past 9 months however, the FDA has approved three new hyper-oxygen transmissible lenses for up to 30-night extended wear. Is this a great advance or another clinical triumph of hope over experience? What should the public know? What should patients do? Methods. Our research group has studied all three new lenses in prospective, randomized, masked, parallel clinical trials in a single center. As an outcome measure, we looked at whether lens wear caused more bacterial binding to surface corneal cells. Results. Compared with conventional lens use, the new lenses caused no or only small increases in bacterial binding in either daily or extended wear. Furthermore, the increases seen stratified with known infection risks by both lens type (hard or soft) and wearing schedule. Indeed, early epidemiologic reports indicate that this new generation of lenses may reduce lens-related microbial infection risks by 10- to 40-fold. Conclusion. This represents a true clinical paradigm shift of the first magnitude in safety of contact lens wear. Taken together, this data suggest that patients will soon replace their current, conventional lenses with this new generation of materials for any schedule of wear.

All cases of contact lens induced keratitis (epithelial defects with an underlying infiltrate or ulcer) among cosmetic wearers in Sweden were collected in a 3-month prospective study and analyzed for risk factors in relation to lens type and wear schedule. Every ophthalmologist in Sweden was invited to participate and 100% responded. Viral cases were excluded. The number of lens wearers in Sweden, subdivided by lens type and wear schedule, was obtained in a parallel 3-month study among 71% of the lens fitters, who counted all their wearers, recording lens type and wear schedule as well as revisit and replacement schedules. The annualized incidence per 10,000 wearers was 1.48 for daily wear of rigid gas permeable lenses, 2.16 for daily wear and 10.00 for extended wear of disposable soft lenses, and 2.17 for daily wear and 13.33 for extended wear of conventional soft lenses. Thus, extended wear was associated with a significantly (P < 0.01-0.001) higher (5-6 times) risk of keratitis than daily wear. There were no other significant differences between the incidence figures. The Swedish incidence figures were approximately half as high as those reported in the U.S. Of the lesions, only 12% were located within the pupillary area and only 8% were corneal ulcers. Only three patients (12%) suffered a decrease in visual acuity. Severe keratitis was significantly (P < 0.01) more common among conventional soft lens wearers (accounting for all ulcers, all lesions within the pupillary area, and all decreases in visual acuity) than among wearers of disposable lenses.

We conducted a historical cohort study of 2,433 cosmetic contact lens wearers (1,055 conventional [non-disposable] daily wear lens users, 905 disposable extended wear lens users, and 473 conventional extended wear lens users) in order to estimate the rates of occurrence of complications and symptoms among disposable extended wear contact lens users and compare these rates with those for conventional soft daily wear users and conventional soft extended wear users. Data were abstracted from the office records of eight eye care practitioners for the period February 1987 through April 1989. The prevalence of all complications for disposable extended wear lens users was not significantly different from the prevalence for conventional daily wear lens users but was significantly lower than the prevalence for conventional extended wear lens users. The incidence of ulcers among disposable extended wear lens users did not differ significantly from the incidence found with conventional extended wear, but was significantly higher than the rate for conventional daily wear. Disposable extended wear lenses, in contrast to conventional extended wear lenses, may be more strongly associated with benign peripheral infiltrates than with the more serious central ulcers. Disposable extended wear lens users reported symptoms less frequently at routine scheduled visits than both conventional daily wear and conventional extended wear users and had a lower rate of unscheduled visits for complications and symptoms.

Among the many problems complicating contact lens wear, microbial keratitis is of most concern because of its potential for substantial morbidity. Three decades of basic and clinical research suggest that risk factors include poor care compliance and extended wear through one or multiple sleep cycles. Many believe the latter problem is caused in part or in whole to contact lens-induced hypoxia. New contact lenses, both rigid and soft, have been developed that allow oxygen delivery equivalent to the noncontact lens state, under open-eye conditions and close to the same even for closed-eye conditions. But will such lenses reduce the risk for microbial keratitis? The authors argue that until such a conclusion is reached through clinical trials, the question remains in doubt.

Etude des glandes de Meibomius par biomicroscopie transillumination et photographie infrarouge. Les resultats suggerent qu'un trouble de la fonction des glandes de Meibomius s'associerait au developpement de depots (lipides) sur les lentilles souples