Sistemas atuais de cuidados e manutenção de lentes de contato: [revisão] / Current care and maintenance systems for contact lenses: [review]

A correta manutenção das lentes de contato é fundamental para se obter sucesso e manter a continuidade de seu uso. É grande o número de pacientes que abandonam o uso de suas lentes por problemas que poderiam ser solucionados com tratamentos relativamente simples ou com uma orientação mais adequada. O mau uso das lentes, associado à má adaptação, contaminação, doenças oculares prévias e fatores ambientais, podem aumentar o número de infecções corneanas através da proliferação de microorganismos. O presente artigo visa apresentar as atualizações em relação aos cuidados e manutenção com as lentes de contato.

The proper maintenance of contact lenses is crucial for their success and to maintain the continuity of their use. Many patients abandon the use of their lenses due to problems that could be solved with relatively simple treatments. The misuse of lenses, coupled with poor adjustment, contamination, eye disease and environmental factors may increase the number of corneal infections through the proliferation of microorganisms. This article aims to provide contact lens care and maintenance updates.

[Current care and maintenance systems for contact lenses]. / Sistemas atuais de cuidados e manutenção de lentes de contato.

The proper maintenance of contact lenses is crucial for their success and to maintain the continuity of their use. Many patients abandon the use of their lenses due to problems that could be solved with relatively simple treatments. The misuse of lenses, coupled with poor adjustment, contamination, eye disease and environmental factors may increase the number of corneal infections through the proliferation of microorganisms. This article aims to provide contact lens care and maintenance updates.

Fusarium and Candida albicans biofilms on soft contact lenses: model development, influence of lens type, and susceptibility to lens care solutions.

Fungal keratitis is commonly caused by Fusarium species and less commonly by Candida species. Recent outbreaks of Fusarium keratitis were associated with contact lens wear and with ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens care solution, and biofilm formation on contact lens/lens cases was proposed to play a role in this outbreak. However, no in vitro model for contact lens-associated fungal biofilm has been developed. In this study, we developed and characterized in vitro models of biofilm formation on various soft contact lenses using three species of Fusarium and Candida albicans. The contact lenses tested were etafilcon A, galyfilcon A, lotrafilcon A, balafilcon A, alphafilcon A, and polymacon. Our results showed that clinical isolates of Fusarium and C. albicans formed biofilms on all types of lenses tested and that the biofilm architecture varied with the lens type. Moreover, differences in hyphal content and architecture were found between the biofilms formed by these fungi. We also found that two recently isolated keratitis-associated fusaria formed robust biofilms, while the reference ATCC 36031 strain (recommended by the International Organization for Standardization guidelines for testing of disinfectants) failed to form biofilm. Furthermore, using the developed in vitro biofilm model, we showed that phylogenetically diverse planktonic fusaria and Candida were susceptible to MoistureLoc and MultiPlus. However, Fusarium biofilms exhibited reduced susceptibility against these solutions in a species- and time-dependent manner. This in vitro model should provide a better understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of lens-related fungal keratitis.

Clinical survey of lens care in contact lens patients.

PURPOSE: Overall, contact lenses provide a safe and effective modality for vision correction. However, problems do occasionally arise. Up to 80% of contact lens complications can be traced to poor patient compliance with recommended lens care guidelines. We conducted a survey to evaluate the level of patient compliance in specific areas of lens care and maintenance and to assess patient knowledge of basic contact lens information. METHODS: Patients were asked to complete an anonymous 15 question survey that focused on lens care--specifically the use of contact lens cleaners, methods of disinfection, enzyme treatments, use of rewetting drops, and the frequency of follow-up exams. In addition, the survey included six true/false questions relating to contact lens care and safety. RESULTS: There were a total of 103 participants in the study. Approximately 24% of patients stated they never cleaned their lenses prior to disinfection, and 5% used saline solutions as their primary mode of disinfection. A sizable portion of those surveyed (43% of soft lens wearers and 71% of rigid gas permeable lens wearers) either never used enzyme cleaners or used them less than once a month. Seventy percent of patients either never used rewetting drops or used them less than once a day. Twenty-nine percent of patients consulted their eye care professionals every 2 years and 6% less often than every two years. Six questions assessed patient knowledge of contact lens care safety. Of a possible six out of six correct answers, the mean number of correct responses was 3.74. CONCLUSIONS: A sizable proportion of contact lens wearers do not adequately adhere to recommended contact lens care, and many have an inadequate understanding of contact lens care guidelines. Therefore, it is important that practitioners place more emphasis on patient education at the time of initial contact lens fitting and reinforce such instruction during follow-up visits.