Microbial Contamination of Bandage Contact Lens Following Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We studied to evaluate the risk of infectious keratitis in therapeutic contact lens wearer following PRK. METHODS: Forty eyes of 40 normal subjects were applied the therapeutic contact lens after PRK during corneal epithelium regeneration period and all patients used ofloxacin eye drops. After 3 to 5 days the therapeutic contact lenses were removed aseptically and we inoculated them into culture media. RESULTS: The number of culture positive contact lens was 15 (37.5%) and the number of identified organism was 17, because mixed culture (bacteria and fungus) was detected in two lens culture sets. In the 17 positive culture sets, CNS (Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus) was positive in 7 cases (41.2%), P. acnes in 3 cases (17.6%) and even pseudomonas species were positive in 2 cases (11.8%), but there was no infectious keratitis. Fungus was also detected in 4 culture sets. CONCLUSIONS: These results strongly suggest that the risk of infectious keratitis in therapeutic lens wearer after PRK is still high as in extended lens wearers. So, close follow-up for contact lens-related keratitis after PRK is essential despite of the use of antibiotic solution.