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Objectives: To evaluate the risk factors, causative microorganisms, and presenting features of infection in patients with contact lens-associated microbial keratitis (CLAMK) admitted to a tertiary referral center in Turkey., Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of 62 patients who were diagnosed as CLAMK in our clinic between 2012 and 2018 was conducted., Results: The mean age of the patients (22 men and 40 women) at the time of diagnosis was 24.5±8.3 years (range, 16-48). The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.7±0.9 log of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) (0-3) before treatment and increased to 0.1±0.1 logMAR (0-0.4) at the end of the follow-up. All patients, except one using rigid gas-permeable CL, were frequent replacement soft CL users. Thirty-one (50%) patients declared overnight wear, and 37 (58.9%) patients declared showering or swimming in CLs regularly. Cultures of either corneal scrapings or CL materials were positive in 40 (64.5%) eyes, 12 (19.4%) of which had mixed infections. Thirteen strains of microorganisms were demonstrated, among which there were seven (53.8%) gram-negative bacteria, one (7.7%) gram-positive bacteria, four (30.7%) fungi, and Acanthamoeba (7.7%). The most common pathogen was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by Serratia marcescens and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. According to culture results, P. aeruginosa infections were associated with significantly worse BCVA. Keratitis foci were either centrally or paracentrally located in 39 (62.9%) eyes, and 16 eyes (25.8%) presented with hypopyon., Conclusion: Along with growing number of CL users, CLAMK constitutes an important problem with possibly worse visual outcomes. Thus, in addition to meticulous treatment, management of risk factors and behavioral modifications is crucial.

Background: To determine the extent of scleral lens fitting worldwide and to characterise the associated patient demographics., Methods: Survey forms were sent to contact lens fitters around the world, every year for 20 consecutive years (2000 to 2019). Practitioners were asked to record data relating to the first 10 contact lens fits or refits performed after receiving the survey. Data were analysed for those countries reporting ≥ 1,000 contact lens fits during this period., Results: A total of 369,209 contact lens fits were recorded from 40 eligible countries, comprising 2,309 scleral lens fits and 366,900 other (non-scleral) lens fits. Overall scleral lenses represented 0.76 per cent of all contact lens fits with significant differences between countries (p < 0.0001), ranging from no fits in six countries: Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, to 5.9 per cent in Switzerland. There has been an increase in scleral lens fitting over the survey period (p < 0.0001), with the rate of fits increasing from negligible (< 0.50 per cent) before 2006 and then increasing from 2011 onward (p < 0.0001). Scleral lenses were fit to older patients (38.5 ± 15.0 years) compared to other lenses (31.4 ± 13.7 years) (p < 0.0001), this age disparity increasing over the survey period (p < 0.0001) and were more likely to be males (scleral lens fits 53 per cent, non-scleral lenses 33 per cent, p < 0.0001). The increase in scleral lens fits is commensurate with the increase in related publications in the peer-reviewed literature over the same period (p < 0.05, r 2 = 0.82)., Conclusion: Scleral lens use has increased since 2011 with these specialised lenses more likely to be fitted to males and older patients than non-scleral lenses., (© 2020 Optometry Australia.)

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated government-imposed restrictions on social interactions and travel. For many, the guidance has led to new ways of working, most notably a shift towards working remotely. While eye care practitioners (ECPs) may continue to provide urgent or emergency eye care, in many cases the travel restrictions present a unique challenge by preventing conventional face-to-face examination. Telephone triage provides a useful starting point for establishing at-risk and emergency patients; but patient examination is central to contact lens patient care. The indeterminate period over which conventional practice will be suspended, and the risk that resumption of 'normal' practice could be impeded by a potential secondary peak in COVID-19 cases, hastens the need for practitioners to adapt their delivery of eyecare. Specifically, it is prudent to reflect upon supportive evidence for more comprehensive approaches to teleoptometry in contact lens practice. Smartphone based ocular imaging is an area which has seen considerable growth, particularly for imaging the posterior eye. Smartphone imaging of the anterior eye requires additional specialised instrumentation unlikely to be available to patients at home. Further, there is only limited evidence for self-administered image capture. In general, digital photographs, are useful for detection of gross anterior eye changes, but subtle changes are less discernible. For the assessment of visual acuity, many electronic test charts have been validated for use by practitioners. Research into self-administered visual acuity measures remains limited. The absence of a comprehensive evidence base for teleoptometry limits ECPs, particularly during this pandemic. Knowledge gaps ought to be addressed to facilitate development of optometry specific evidence-based guidance for telecare. In particular, advances in ocular self-imaging could help move this field forwards., (Copyright © 2020 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

An estimated 45 million U.S. residents enjoy the benefits of contact lens wear, but many of them might be at increased risk for complications stemming from improper wear and care behaviors (1). One of the most serious complications of contact lens wear is a corneal infection known as microbial keratitis, which can sometimes result in reduced vision or blindness (2). In 2014, 50% of contact lens wearers reported ever sleeping in contact lenses, and 55% reported topping off* their contact lens solutions (3), which put them at greater risk for a contact lens-related eye infection (2,4). Data on communication between eye care providers and contact lens wearers on contact lens wear and care recommendations are limited. Two surveys were conducted to better understand and assess contact lens education about nine recommendations: the first assessed contact lens wearer experiences regarding recommendations received from eye care providers during their most recent appointment; the second evaluated provider-reported practices for communicating contact lens wear and care recommendations to their patients. One third (32.9%) of contact lens wearers aged ≥18 years recalled never hearing any lens wear and care recommendations. Fewer than half (47.9%) recalled hearing their provider recommend not sleeping in lenses at their last visit, and 19.8% recalled being told to avoid topping off their contact lens solution. A majority of providers reported sharing recommendations always or most of the time at initial visits, regular checkups, and complication-related visits. Providers reported sharing nearly all recommendations more frequently at initial and complication-related visits than at regular checkups. Of the nine recommendations for safe contact lens wear and care, eye care providers at regular checkups most often recommend complying with the recommended lens replacement schedules (85% of regular visits), not sleeping in lenses (79.0% of regular visits), and not topping off solutions (64.4% of regular visits). Eye care providers play an important role in the health of their contact lens-wearing patients and can share health communication messages with their patients to help educate them about healthy wear and care habits. These findings can assist in the creation of health communication messages to help encourage eye care providers to communicate more effectively with their patients., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. CDC receives an annual contribution from the Contact Lens Institute to support CDC’s Healthy Contact Lens Program. The Contact Lens Institute had no involvement in the preparation, analysis of results, drafting, or review of this report. No other conflicts of interest were reported.

Purpose: To review clinical presentation, investigation results and treatment outcomes of patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) at a tertiary eye care center in Hong Kong., Methods: A retrospective case review was performed for cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis diagnosed at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong over a 10-year period., Results: Fifteen eyes of 13 patients were treated for AK over the study period. 12 out of 13 patients (92.3%) were contact lens wearers. All patients presented with blurred vision and pain, while 9 patients (69.2%) presented with redness of the affected eye. The most common ocular sign was diffuse corneal haze or ground glass appearance of the cornea (69.2%) followed by anterior chamber inflammation (53.8%), ring infiltrate (38.4%), epithelial defect (38.4%), perineural infiltrates (30.7%) and satellite lesions (15.3%). Acanthamoeba was detected on corneal scrapings in 4 eyes and on confocal microscopy in 4 eyes. The mean duration of treatment was 140 ± 50.8 days. Surgical intervention was required in two cases due to uncontrolled eye infection and progressive corneal thinning. All patients had improvement in visual acuity after treatment., Conclusions: Patients with AK exhibited a wide spectrum of clinical characteristics. Improper care and usage of contact lenses is a major risk factor for Acanthamoeba keratitis. Diagnosis of AK remained a challenge. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment with amoebicidal drugs can improve the outcomes of Acanthamoeba keratitis., (Copyright © 2014 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to report and discuss the clinical experience with PROSE (Prosthetic Replacement of Ocular Surface Ecosystem) practice at a tertiary eye care hospital., Methods: Retrospective data of patients who were prescribed PROSE during April 2011 to March 2012 in a tertiary eye care center in south India were analyzed. Data collected include patient demographics, indications of scleral lens fitting, previous correction modality, PROSE parameters, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with spectacles, and BCVA with PROSE at initial assessment and few hours of wear. The BCVA before (with glasses) and after PROSE fitting was recorded in logMAR units., Results: The age of the patients ranged between 13 and 68 years (male:female 60:25) with a mean age of 32.44±13.45 years. Mean BCVA improved by 0.3 logMAR units (3 lines) after fitting with PROSE. There was a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-PROSE BCVA (P=0.0001). Failure of rigid gas-permeable lens fitting or intolerance was the common indication for PROSE in corneas with irregular astigmatism (refractive conditions). The other reasons for which PROSE was prescribed were pain, photophobia, comfort, ghosting of images, and frequent loss of smaller lenses. Toric scleral haptic was indicated in 62 eyes. The diameter, vault, and haptic measurements of PROSE in ocular surface disorders were much less and flatter than that of refractive conditions., Conclusions: PROSE device is a very useful alternative for irregular corneas to improve visual acuity, to improve comfort, and for symptomatic relief.

Objective: To assess demographic profile and functional outcomes of patients with keratoconus attending contact lens clinic at a tertiary eye care centre., Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 77 patients (142 eyes) diagnosed with keratoconus attending contact lens clinic at Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, from January 2008 to December 2008 was done. Data on age, gender, slit lamp examination, keratometry, topography, visual acuity with log MAR conversion, degree of visual success, type of contact lens and fitting characteristics were obtained., Results: One hundred and forty-two eyes of 77 patients were analyzed of which 49 (63%) were males and 28 (37%) were females; their median age was 24 years (15-36 years). Keratoconus reading based on keratometry was done. Twenty eyes (14.4%) were diagnosed to have mild keratoconus, 51 eyes (36.7%) had moderate, 45(32.4%) had advanced and 23 eyes (16.6%) had severe keratoconus. 113 eyes (79.5%) were visually rehabilitated with RGP lenses while 29 eyes (20.4%) fitted best with Rose-K lenses and in 1 patient (0.1%) Boston scleral lens was given in both eyes. With contact lens wear, visual acuity improved to 6/9 (0.18log MAR) or better in 91% (115 eyes) and 141 (99%) eyes improved to 6/18 (0.48log MAR) or better., Conclusion: We found that in India keratoconus presents at an early age as compared to the western population. Contact lenses offer a good modality to delay the requirement for penetrating keratoplasty. Newer philosophies for fitting contact lenses and newer materials can help in decreasing the contact lenses intolerance which still remains the major indication for undergoing penetrating keratoplasty.

Background: Individuals are increasingly purchasing contact lenses over the Internet. No studies exist regarding Internet purchase of contact lenses and eye care health practices., Methods: One hundred fifty-one college students were surveyed regarding contact lenses purchase category (doctor's office, store, Internet). Pearson chi-square analyses compared purchase category with responses regarding U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations for purchasing contact lenses online. Analysis of variance compared contact lenses purchase category with the Time Pressure Scale (TPS). Also, correlation analyses compared the TPS with Internet eye-health statements., Results: Contact lens purchase categories included doctor's office (43.0%), store (55.0%), and Internet (22.5%), with individuals purchasing at multiple venues. With regard to the FDA recommendations, those who purchased contact lenses at a doctor's office more often adhered to the recommendations, whereas those who purchased contact lenses at a store or the Internet did so less often. Those who purchased contact lenses over the Internet had significantly higher TPS scores. In addition, higher TPS scores were significantly correlated with various statements regarding the Internet., Conclusions: Those who purchase contact lenses via the Internet or store do not follow a number of FDA contact lenses recommendations. Also, those with higher TPS scores trust possible non-evidence-based contact lenses Internet information. Implications with regard to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act are discussed.

Fungal keratitis is a rare yet severe infection of the cornea. Fungal species distribution depends on the climate and socioeconomic status and can show regional variation. This retrospective single-center study was conducted at a tertiary eye care center and the collaborating Institute of Medical Microbiology in Switzerland. On investigating all fungal-positive corneal scrapings and contact lens assessments of patients with keratitis from January 2012 to December 2023, 206 patients were identified, of which 113 (54.9%) were female. The median age was 38 (IQR 29.8, [18–93]), and 154 (74.8%) applied contact lenses. The most commonly found pathogen was Candida spp., followed by Fusarium spp. Molds were 1.8 times more common than yeasts. Linear regression showed no significant increase or decrease in the infection rate over time (p = 0.5). In addition, 10 patients (4.9%) were found to have coinfections with Acanthamoeba, 11 (5.3%) with HSV-1, none with HSV-2, and 4 (1.9%) with VZV. This study provides a long-term overview of fungal-positive corneal scrapings and contact lens specimens of patients with fungal keratitis. Based on our results, coinfections with Acanthamoeba, HSV, and VZV are frequent, especially in patients wearing contact lenses. Thus, wearing contact lenses may facilitate coinfection in fungal keratitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The xenobiotic stress exerted by pesticides leads to the deterioration of human and animal health including ocular health. Acute or prolonged exposure to these agricultural toxicants has been implicated in a number of pathological conditions of the eye such as irritation, epiphora or hyper-lacrimation, abrasions on the ocular surface, and decreased visual acuity. The issue is compounded by the fact that tissues of the eye absorb pesticides faster than other organs of the body and are more susceptible to damage as well. However, there is a lacuna in our knowledge regarding the ways by which pesticide exposure-mediated ocular insult might be counteracted. Topical instillation of drugs known to combat the pesticide induced toxicity has been explored to mitigate the detrimental impact of pesticide exposure. However, topical eye drop solutions exhibit very low bioavailability and limited drug residence duration in the tear film decreasing their efficacy. Contact lenses have been explored in this respect to increase bioavailability of ocular drugs, while nanoparticles have lately been utilized to increase drug bioavailability and increase drug residence duration in different tissues. The current review focuses on drug delivery and futuristic aspects of corneal protection from ocular toxicity using contact lenses., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Contact lenses (CL) have become an immensely popular means of vision correction, offering comfort to millions worldwide. However, the persistent issue of biofilm formation on lenses raises significant problems, leading to various ocular complications and discomfort. The aim of this review is to develop safer and more effective strategies for preventing and managing microbial biofilms on CL, improving the eye health and comfort of wearers. Taking these into consideration, the present study investigates the intricate mechanisms of biofilm formation, by exploring the interplay between microbial adhesion, the production of extracellular polymeric substances, and the properties of the lens material itself. Moreover, it emphasizes the diverse range of microorganisms involved, encompassing bacteria, fungi, and other opportunistic pathogens, elucidating their implications within lenses and other medical device-related infections and inflammatory responses. Going beyond the challenges posed by biofilms on CL, this work explores the advancements in biofilm detection techniques and their clinical relevance. It discusses diagnostic tools like confocal microscopy, genetic assays, and emerging technologies, assessing their capacity to identify and quantify biofilm-related infections. Finally, the paper delves into contemporary strategies and innovative approaches for managing and preventing biofilms development on CL. In Conclusion, this review provides insights for eye care practitioners, lens manufacturers, and microbiology researchers. It highlights the intricate interactions between biofilms and CL, serving as a foundation for the development of effective preventive measures and innovative solutions to enhance CL safety, comfort, and overall ocular health. Research into microbial biofilms on CL is continuously evolving, with several future directions being explored to address challenges and improve eye health outcomes as far as CL wearers are concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Surveys in 2015 and 2019 identified a high level of eye care practitioner concern/activity about myopia, but the majority still prescribed single vision interventions to young myopes. This research aimed to provide updated information., Methods: A self-administered, internet-based questionnaire was distributed in 13 languages, through professional bodies to eye care practitioners globally. The questions examined awareness of increasing myopia prevalence, perceived efficacy and adoption of available strategies, and reasons for not adopting specific strategies., Results: Of the 3195 respondents, practitioners' concern about the increasing frequency of pediatric myopia in their practices differed between continents (P < 0.001), being significantly higher in Asia (9.0 ± 1.5 of 10) than other continents (range 7.7-8.2; P ≤ 0.001). Overall, combination therapy was perceived by practitioners to be the most effective method of myopia control, followed by orthokeratology and pharmaceutical approaches. The least effective perceived methods were single vision distance undercorrection, spectacles and contact lenses, as well as bifocal spectacles. Practitioners rated their activity in myopia control between (6.6 ± 2.9 in South America to 7.9 ± 1.2/2.2 in Australasia and Asia). Single-vision spectacles are still the most prescribed option for progressing young myopia (32.2%), but this has decreased since 2019, and myopia control spectacles (15.2%), myopia control contact lenses (8.7%) and combination therapy (4.0%) are growing in popularity., Conclusions: More practitioners across the globe are practicing myopia control, but there are still significant differences between and within continents. Practitioners reported that embracing myopia control enhanced patient loyalty, increasing practice revenue and improving job satisfaction.

This quasi-experimental research aimed to study the effects of a Health Education Program on eye care behavior of 30 students who wear contact lenses and were selected by using purposive sampling. The educational program consisted of education, guidance, and support to create an environment that promoted self-care. Data were collected using a questionnaire for eye health care behavior, and analyzed by a t-test. The research found that students' eye care behavior improved after being exposed to the educational program (t = -8.15, p < .05). Therefore, instruction concerning proper eye care and performing continuous follow-up helped to enhance proper eye care behavior. This especially included seeking prompt assistance from an ophthalmologist when eye abnormalities were experienced, removing contact lenses before showering or swimming, using the hands to gently rub and clean the lenses, reading or writing in a well-lit place with materials about 300 mm away from the eyes, and eating foods that were high in vitamin A or carotene to nourish the eyes. These behaviors helped to prevent eye problems associated with wearing contact lenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to report practice patterns in the management of keratoconus in India. Methods: An e-survey was conducted among members of the Cornea Society of India to assess preferred practice patterns for keratoconus. Results: Of the 912 members, 234 (25.7%) completed the survey. About 88.4% worked in private eye care facilities and 76.1% in cities. Of all the respondents, 91.5% had access to a Scheimpflug-based device or an Orbscan II®; 71.4% of the respondents dispensed scleral contact lenses, and 66.7% dispensed Rose K contact lenses; 92.7% of the respondents performed corneal cross-linking (CXL); and 73.1% of the respondents performed deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). A Scheimpflug device or Orbscan II®, Rose K or scleral contact lenses, and CXL were more readily available (P < 0.05) in private eye care facilities. The diagnostic criteria for keratoconus followed by the majority of the respondents (52.1%) were increase in corneal curvature, elevation, and thickness. An increase in keratometry values greater than 0.5 or 1.0D in a 6-month to 1-year period was considered the most favored criterion for keratoconus progression. Epithelium-off, 0.1% riboflavin solution in dextran, and accelerated protocol were the more commonly reported techniques in CXL. About 77.2% of the respondents routinely performed CXL in corneas <400 microns thick. Spectacles (91.0% of the respondents) and topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (37.6% of the respondents) were, respectively, the preferred optical and surgical methods used to improve vision. Conclusion: While keratoconus management in India is comparable to other developed healthcare systems, the concentration of trained corneal surgeons in cities and private eyecare facilities may lead to less equitable distribution of treatment across the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots are able to explain complex concepts using plain language. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of three AI chatbots answering common questions related to contact lens (CL) wear., Methods: Three open access AI chatbots were compared: Perplexity, Open Assistant and ChatGPT 3.5. Ten general CL questions were asked to all AI chatbots on the same day in two different countries, with the questions asked in Spanish from Spain and in English from the U.K. Two independent optometrists with experience working in each country assessed the accuracy of the answers provided. Also, the AI chatbots' responses were assessed if their outputs showed any bias towards (or against) any eye care professional (ECP)., Results: The answers obtained by the same AI chatbots were different in Spain and the U.K. Also, statistically significant differences were found between the AI chatbots for accuracy. In the U.K., ChatGPT 3.5 was the most and Open Assistant least accurate (p < 0.01). In Spain, Perplexity and ChatGPT were statistically more accurate than Open Assistant (p < 0.01). All the AI chatbots presented bias, except ChatGPT 3.5 in Spain., Conclusions: AI chatbots do not always consider local CL legislation, and their accuracy seems to be dependent on the language used to interact with them. Hence, at this time, although some AI chatbots might be a good source of information for general CL related questions, they cannot replace an ECP., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Significance: Patients with Demodex blepharitis have a considerable symptomatic burden that negatively impacts their daily activities and well-being. Despite chronic manifestations of and problems associated with blepharitis that resulted in multiple visits to eye care providers, Demodex blepharitis remained underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed., Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Demodex blepharitis on patients' daily activities and well-being., Methods: This prospective, multicenter, observational study recruited 524 patients with Demodex blepharitis from 20 U.S. ophthalmology and optometry practices. Demodex blepharitis was diagnosed based on the presence of the following clinical manifestations in at least one eye: >10 collarettes on the upper lashes, at least mild lid margin erythema of the upper eyelid, and mite density of ≥1.0 mite/lash (upper and lower combined). Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire related to their symptoms, daily activities, and management approaches., Results: The proportion of patients who experienced blepharitis symptoms for ≥2 years was 67.8%, and for ≥4 years, it was 46.5%. The three most bothersome symptoms ranked were "itchy eyes," "dry eyes," and "foreign body sensation." Overall, 77.4% of patients reported that Demodex blepharitis negatively affected their daily life. One-third (32.3%) of patients had visited a doctor for blepharitis at least two times, including 19.6% who visited at least four times. Despite having clinical manifestations of Demodex blepharitis confirmed by an eye care provider, 58.7% had never been diagnosed with blepharitis. Commonly used management approaches were artificial tears, warm compresses, and lid wipes. Among those who discontinued their regimen, 45.9% had discontinued because of either tolerability issues or lack of effectiveness. Among contact lens wearers, 64.3% of the patients either were uncomfortable wearing contact lenses or experienced vision changes "sometimes" or "frequently.", Conclusion: Demodex blepharitis results in a significant negative impact on daily activities, creating a psychosocial and symptomatic burden on patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Disclosure: MH and SNB are employees of Tarsus Pharmaceuticals. PK has also received consulting fees from Tarsus Pharmaceuticals. PK and WEW are equity stakeholders in Tarsus Pharmaceuticals. EY, LMP, MB, and PV have received personal or consulting fees from Tarsus Pharmaceuticals. EY serves on the board of directors of Tarsus Pharmaceuticals. AP, BS, GJB, and JM do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose related to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Optometry.)

Background: Bandage contact lenses are important aids for aftercare following ocular surgery and for a wide variety of ocular surface conditions. However, bandage contact lenses also bear the risk of fostering microbial infections of the cornea. We herein report the safety profile of bandage contact lenses from a comprehensive review of medical records in a tertiary care eye hospital in Germany. Methods: We identified 638 consecutive patients who had been prescribed at least one bandage lens during the past 10 years. For these, we performed a computerized search for the following adverse events: (1) endophthalmitis, (2) emergency keratoplasty and (3) vision loss of at least 2 lines according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS). We manually assessed the relatedness of each event to the bandage lens. Events later than 100 days following the bandage lens prescription were not considered to be related to bandage contact lenses. Results: We observed 267 adverse events, with 120 occurring within 100 days after bandage lens prescription. This left a total of 18 endophthalmitis events, 21 penetrating keratoplasties and 81 eyes with vision loss of at least 2 ETDRS lines (for individual review of relatedness). Only two episodes of endophthalmitis could be linked to bandage lens wear. All other adverse events were due to causative conditions that had already been present prior to bandage contact lens insertion. Conclusions: Severe adverse events after bandage contact lens wear are not uncommon because lenses are used in patients suffering from preexisting ocular conditions. However, severe adverse events were almost never caused by the bandage contact lenses directly in our hands. We therefore conclude that bandage contact lenses are safe given proper ophthalmological supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The pinhole effect is commonly used to discriminate uncorrected refractive error from ocular diseases. A small aperture limits the width of light beams entering the eye, thus increasing the depth of focus. The pinhole effect has also been used in spectacles, contact lenses, corneal inlays, and intraocular lenses (IOLs) to improve reading by compensating for loss of accommodative function. Pinhole spectacles improve near visual acuity, but reduce reading speed, increase interblink interval, and decrease tear break-up time. For contact lenses and IOLs, pinhole devices are usually used in the nondominant eye, which allow compensation of various refractive errors and decrease spectacle dependence. Pinhole corneal inlays are implanted during laser in situ keratomileusis or as a separate procedure. Pinhole IOLs are gaining popularity, particularly as they do not bring a risk of a local inflammatory reaction as corneal inlays do. Disadvantages of using the pinhole effect include high susceptibility to decentration, decrease in retinal luminance levels, and difficulties in performing fundus examinations or surgery in eyes with implanted devices. There are also concerns regarding perceptive issues with different retinal illuminances in the 2 eyes (the Pulfrich effect)., Competing Interests: Disclosures: P. Kanclerz reports grants from Alcon Laboratories, Inc. and Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, non-financial support from Optopol Technology SA. R. Khoramnia reports grants, personal fees, and non-financial support from Alimera, Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Bayer Healthcare AG, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Hoya Surgical Optics GmbH, Novartis Corp., Physiol S.A., Rayner Intraocular Lenses Ltd., Roche Innovatis AG, personal fees, and non-financial support from Allergan, Inc., Kowa Optimed Deutschland GmbH, Ophtec BV, Oculentis GmbH/Teleon, Santen GmbH, and Acufocus, Inc., outside the submitted work. D. Atchison reports support from Coopervision, Inc. The authors report no conflicts of interest and have no proprietary interest in any of the materials mentioned in this article., (Copyright © 2023 Published by Wolters Kluwer on behalf of ASCRS and ESCRS.)

Rigid contact lenses have an important role in contact lens practice. The purpose of this work is to update earlier surveys by describing global trends in rigid lens fitting between 2000-2023. An annual contact lens prescribing survey was sent to eye care practitioners in up to 71 countries between 2000 and 2023. Data relating to 342,500 fits undertaken in 20 countries returning reliable longitudinal data were analysed in respect of rigid lens fitting, defined as the fitting of any design of a contact lens manufactured in a rigid material. Overall, rigid lens prescribing increased slightly over time, from 14.2 % of lens fits in 2000 to 15.2 % in 2023 (p < 0.0001). However, post-hoc analysis shows that the change over time is best described as a decline between 2000 and 2012, followed by a steady increase subsequently. There were significant differences in rigid lens prescribing between countries (p < 0.0001). The difference between the percentage of males fitted with rigid lenses, as a proportion of all contact lenses (12.7 %), and females (12.0 %) is significant (p < 0.0001), although not clinically meaningful. Rigid lens wearers are older at fitting than soft lens wearers (38.7 vs 31.3 years, respectively) (p < 0.0001). Analysis of 5,994 rigid lens fits prescribed currently (2019–2023) were categorised as: corneal sphere – 30 %; scleral and corneo-scleral – 28 %; corneal myopia control/orthokeratology – 21 %; and corneal complex (including toric, multifocal and monovision) – 16 %. There has been a slight increase in rigid lens fitting during the second decade of this century. This increase is apparently due to a 'repurposing' of rigid lenses, with the growth of scleral/corneo-scleral and myopia control/orthokeratology lens fits essentially replacing conventional spherical corneal lens fits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To understand the clinical pattern of keratoconus in patients visiting a tertiary eye-care center. This may improve the knowledge of the disease and treatment options. Methods: The records from a tertiary eye-care hospital-based center were reviewed retrospectively to collect the required data. Medical records from 187 patients who had visited the contact lens clinic in the course of a three-month period were reviewed. The data available on demographics, year of diagnosis of keratoconus, topographic measurements, slit-lamp biomicroscopic findings, previously used or currently advised refractive correction, visual acuity and contact lens parameters were reviewed and recorded. Results: Of the 187 patients, 365 eyes were included in the study. Six eyes that had previous corneal grafting and 3 eyes that were fellow normal eyes of unilateral keratoconus were excluded. The patients’ mean age was 21.3±6.96 years. There were 172 (47.12%) eyes previously diagnosed as keratoconus and 193 (52.87%) eyes that had been newly diagnosed as keratoconus. In the newly diagnosed group, 188 eyes were fitted with different types of contact lenses and 5 eyes were advised surgery. In the previously diagnosed group, 138 eyes and 6 eyes continued wearing conventional and multicurve custom rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, respectively. Of the remaining 28 eyes, 3 eyes were fitted with RGP lenses, 16 were refitted with piggyback, 2 with multicurve custom RGP and 7 were advised for scleral lenses or surgery. Conclusion: This study brings out the clinical profile of keratoconus patients in a tertiary eye-care center in south India. The findings in this study stresses out the importance of defining the treatment options in keratoconus with the appropriate contact lenses.

Purpose: To compare the clinical aspects and treatment outcomes of contact lens-related bacterial keratitis (CLBK) and non-CLBK patients., Methods: Altogether 217 patients of bacterial keratitis (CLBK; 62, non-CLBK; 155) hospitalized between January 2012 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed for epidemiology, microbiological profiles, predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes. Poor treatment outcomes (PTO) were defined as a final BCVA < 0.3 (Snellen), a decreased visual acuity after treatment, complications, or surgical intervention. Relative importance of the initial clinical features leading to PTO was assessed using the random forest model and two-proportion Z-test., Results: The most common predisposing factors were sleeping with wearing CL (51.6%) in the CLBK group and trauma (55.5%) in the non-CLBK group. There were significant differences between the two groups in mean age (35.1:55.1 years, p < 0.001), female sex (56.5:34.8%, p = 0.003), symptom duration (6.2:6.9 days, p = 0.019), gram-negative organisms (83.3:48.3%, p = 0.008), epithelial healing time (8.5:14.1 days, p = 0.004), final BCVA (0.15:0.46 logMAR, p = 0.015), and PTO (9.7:21.9%, p = 0.035). For the entire group, the initial BCVA < 0.1 (27.9%), symptom duration ≥ 5 days (19.4%), age ≥ 60 years (16.4%), and hypopyon (14.0%) were important initial clinical features leading to PTO in the random forest model. In CLBK group, the type of CL or CL-related history was not significantly related to PTO., Conclusion: CLBK patients had a higher proportion of females, younger age, gram-negative bacteria, and better treatment outcomes than those of non-CLBK patients. There were no significant risk factors leading to PTO in either the type of CL or CL-related history., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of contact lenses (CL) as a therapeutic option for patients affected by a corneal disease and to determinate which is the best lens modality for each disease., Methods: A literature review using PubMed was performed. All relevant articles published during the last 15 years have been included., Results: Various studies point to CL as the best therapeutic option for some corneal diseases and even as an alternative to surgery in some cases. After fitting, patients show an improvement in their functional vision and quality of life, in some cases being able to drive or work again., Conclusions: There is a lack of scientific evidence to determine which lens modality is suitable for each corneal pathology. Currently, according to this review, the reason for choosing between the different options depends on the severity of symptoms, and it is worth mentioning that scleral lenses seem to be the best option in advanced stages of disease. However, the expertise of professionals is also an important factor at the time of choosing a particular CL modality. Standardized criteria are still necessary for correct selection of lens modality for a correct management of the disease., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists.)

To explore optometric practices and attitudes in the management of keratoconus patients in LatinAmerica and how they are influenced by eye-care technology will help to minimise disease progression and their impact on patients' quality of life in Latin America. Keratoconus is a progressive, bilateral and asymmetric corneal disorder that requires a multidisciplinary approach, the use of different eye assessment technology, and different management approaches; mainly contact lenses and surgery. Self-reported answers to an online survey (adapted to primary eye care) distributed via a newsletter emailed by various professional organisations across 15 Latin American countries were assessed and compared with those previously reported in three European countries. Answers from 977 eye care practitioners (60%) with >10 years of experience (396 in Latin America and 581 in Europe) were assessed. A total of 65.9% of Latin American responders prescribed rigid corneal lenses (RCL), although more than half of the respondents (54.0%) would fit more RCL if they underwent further training in RCL fitting. A majority of Latin American practitioners (74.0%) considered that RCL fitting is more difficult in keratoconus, requiring more diagnostic lenses (4.6 ± 2.7; median 4; range 1-10) than are necessary for healthy eyes. Low availability of corneal topography was reported in Latin America (23%), although practitioners with topographers are more likely to prescribe RCL (92.3%) and detect more new patients with keratoconus per year (83.5%). A minority of respondents referred keratoconus patients to another optometrist (25.8%) or (40.4%) participated in comanagement with ophthalmologists. This study provides initial evidence regarding keratoconus management in Latin America and suggests that actions are necessary to improve RCL training, facilitate eye-care technology accessibility and encourage comanagement between eye care practitioners to minimise disease progression and their impact on patients' quality of life in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying potential barriers to contact lens wear could increase awareness about contact lenses and their benefits and boost the confidence of optometrists offering contact lenses to their patients. Contact lenses provide better visual performance according to many studies. Nevertheless, resistance to wearing them remains an issue. This study will identify barriers to contact lens wear among university students in Jordan. This study enrolled university students who wore spectacles for their refractive error correction and have had no history of contact lens wear. A questionnaire of potential barriers was constructed whereby participants were required to respond to a set of questions that asked how each suggested item was considered a barrier for contact lens wear; responses were recorded within a 5-points scale (1: strongly disagree to 5: strongly agree). A total of 260 participants (175 females and 85 males) were enrolled in the study. All participants showed normal findings for contact lens wear candidacy. The mean score of total barriers to contact lens wear was high, at 33.8 (±5.4 SD) (out of 55 the maximum possible score). The major identified barriers were: decision of eye care practitioners that contact lenses are unsuitable for them (64.6% of the study sample); decision of the participants that contact lens were unsuitable for their work environment (63.5%); and reported symptoms of ocular dryness (61.6%) that made participants reluctant to try contact lenses This work identified several patient-related barriers to contact lens wear. Probing these barriers may encourage eye care providers and contact lens manufacturers to promote contact lenses as a viable option for the correction of refractive error. This in turn will increase awareness among patients about contact lenses and encourage them to try contact lenses as alternative to spectacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe prescribing patterns of therapeutic scleral lenses (SLs) in the management of corneal irregularity and ocular surface disease among practitioners who prescribe SLs., Methods: Participants ranked treatment options for corneal irregularity and ocular surface disease in the order they would generally consider using them in an electronic survey. Median rank score for each option is reported, along with the percentage of participants assigning first place ranking to each option. The percentage of participants assigning first, second, or third place ranking to each option is also reported., Results: Seven hundred and seventy-eight practitioners participated. Scleral lenses are most frequently considered as the first choice for the management of corneal irregularity based on overall median rank, followed by corneal rigid lenses (rigid gas-permeable [RGPs]). Scleral lenses were the first choice of 42% of participants, followed by RGPs (20%). For ocular surface disease, lubricant drops are most frequently used first, followed by meibomian gland expression, topical cyclosporine or lifitegrast, topical steroids, punctal plugs, and SLs, respectively. Lubricant drops were the first therapeutic option considered for ocular surface disease by 63% of participants and 45% ranked SLs as their sixth, seventh or eighth treatment based on median overall rank., Conclusions: Scleral lenses were identified as the first option for management of corneal irregularity more frequently than RGPs. Scleral lenses are considered for management of ocular surface disease before surgical intervention but after meibomian gland expression, punctal occlusion, and topical medical therapy are attempted., (Copyright © 2022 Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists.)

Objectives: To report current trends in scleral contact lens prescription and management, including lens designs prescribed, care products recommended, and procedures performed during routine scleral lens (SL) evaluation., Methods: An online survey was designed by the Scleral Lenses in Current Ophthalmic Practice Evaluation study team and administered to eye care practitioners attending a specialty contact lens meeting. The survey was available from November 8, 2019, through March 31, 2020. Participants' demographic data were collected, along with information on lens diameters, landing zone (LZ) designs, recommended care products, and components of routine SL evaluation., Results: In total, 715 participants responded to at least one of the survey items of interest. Most lenses prescribed (63%) were 16 mm or more in diameter. Lenses with toric LZs were the most frequently prescribed (48%), followed by spherical (40%), quadrant-specific (8%), and impression-based or image-based designs (3%). Most participants (61%) recommended hydrogen peroxide products for lens care. Nonpreserved saline in a single-use vial was most frequently recommended to fill the bowl of the lens before application. Intraocular pressure was measured during SL evaluation by 45% of participants; 38% of participants routinely measured corneal thickness., Conclusions: Practitioners increasingly are prescribing SLs with advanced LZ designs. Most practitioners recommend hydrogen peroxide-based disinfection systems and single-use vials of nonpreserved saline for lens care and application. Because differences in components of routine SL evaluations were reported, clinicians may benefit from reaching a consensus on essential components of SL evaluation., Competing Interests: J. Harthan: consulting for Allergan, Essilor of America, Euclid Systems Corp, International Keratoconus Academy, Metro Optics, Visioneering Technologies Inc., Bausch + Lomb Inc., Kala Pharmaceuticals, Ocular Therapeutix Inc. E. Shorter: research grant from Johnson & Johnson. Consulting: BostonSight. J. Fogt: research funding from Nevakar Inc., EyeNovia Inc., Alcon, Innovega Inc., Contamac US Inc., Bausch + Lomb. Consulting for Alcon and Contamac US Inc. A. Nau: paid lecturer for Eye Eco. Consulting for Oyster Point Pharma Inc.The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists.)