A Survey of Contact Lens-Related Complications in Korea: The Korean Contact Lens Study Society

PURPOSE: To investigate the epidemiology of contact lens (CL)-related complications in Korea. METHODS: A questionnaire regarding CL-related complications including patient's gender, age, causative factors, and signs and symptoms was distributed to members of the Korean Ophthalmological Society by The Korean Contact Lens Study Society and the results of the questionnaire analyzed. RESULTS: Responses to the questionnaire written by ophthalmologists from 22 institutes and clinics were collected from 499 subjects over a 20-month period starting in October 2008 and analyzed. The mean age of respondents was 22.9 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1:8.1. The soft CL and cosmetic colored lens comprised the majority (46.6% and 42.1%, respectively) of the reported cases, followed by the rigid gas permeable lens (RGP lens; 10.6%) and orthokeratology lens (0.8%). In subjects using a cosmetic colored lens, 62.2% showed emmetropia and 89.1% of the lenses were prescribed by opticians. The main complications included corneal erosion, sterile corneal infiltrate, allergic disease, conjunctival injection, corneal ulcer, and dry eye syndrome. The most common causative factor of complications was excessive lens wear. Comparing main causative factors according to the RGP lens prescriber, the most common factor was poor lens fit. CONCLUSIONS: The number of cosmetic colored lens-related complications in the emmetropic eyes of young patients is increasing rapidly. Considering opticians are the main CL prescribers in CL-related complications, Korean ophthalmologists need to pay more attention to CL fitting and constant education of patients regarding proper CL wear and care.

Tear ascorbic acid levels and the total antioxidant status in contact lens wearers: A pilot study.

Aims: The tear ascorbate owing to its high concentration, functions as an effective antioxidant against the oxidative damage of cornea. Contact lens wearers (CLW) are prone to oxidative stress due to the lens-induced hypoxic conditions. A pilot study was done to compare the tear ascorbic acid level and the total antioxidant capacity give as in normal and CLW. Materials and Methods: In this study 21 CLW (Mean age 23 ± 3 years; M-2, F-19), who were daily wear users, with duration of wear not more than four years, along with age-matched 28 controls (Mean age 28 ± 3; M-15, F-13) were recruited in the study for collection of reflex tears using Schirmer's strip. Ascorbic acid in tears was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total protein assay by spectrophotometric analysis. Results: CLW showed no significant change in the tear ascorbic acid levels (0.4 ± 0.26 mM) compared to the control subjects (0.61 ± 0.59 mM). The amount of ascorbic acid in tears did not correlate with the TAC or the total protein of the tears. The mean TAC in CLW was 0.69 ± 0.16 mM, with a total protein of 1.35 ± 0.46 mg/ml while in controls it was 0.7 ± 0.18 mM and 1.21 ± 0.47 mg/ml respectively. Conclusions: Soft contact lens wear did not show any significant change in tear ascorbic acid, TAC and total protein levels compared to controls.

Serratia Marcescens Keratitis

PURPOSE: Serratia marcescens keratitis is relatively common among the various bacterial corneal infections and has been known to be associated with contact lens wear. The authors performed a study to identify the risk factors, clinical features and treatment results. METHODS: Epidemiologic study was prospectively performed under the identical protocol from May 1995 to April 2000 in 11 hospitals. RESULTS: Twenty cases of Serratia marcescens keratitis were diagnosed. Contact lens wear was involved in Serratia marcescens keratitis in 90%. The highest age prevalence was in the thirties(45%). The majority of them were students(30%) and office workers(30%). CONCLUSIONS: The principle risk factor of Serratia marcescens keratitis in this study was contact lens wear. The proper use of contact lens and education on it's complications may play an important role in reducing the incidence rate of Serratia marcescens keratitis.