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Contact Lens Cases Could Become Contaminated

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Dec 2, 2008 9:33 pm US/Eastern

Contact Lens Cases Could Become Contaminated

Reporting
Dr. Maria Simbra
(KDKA) How clean is your contact lens case? According to findings presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, it could be contaminated.

"Most people just don't take the time to rinse their contact lens cases out in the morning after they put their contact lenses in," says Allegheny General Hospital ophthalmologist Dr. Deval Paranjpe, "and you would be surprised at what kinds of biofilms build up on a contact lens case, even after a day or two."

Biofilms are that slimy bacterial residue. In fact, a study from Israel of 30 storage cases from 16 people, found at least one germ in two out of every three.

Dr. Paranjpe sees people with corneal ulcers from these microbes, like staph, serratia, and psuedomonas.

"Sometimes I will also find fungus," she adds, "which is quite scary because that can take months and months to treat."

These infections can result in an ulcer on your eye...or worse. "The consequences can be devastating. You can have permanent vision loss. And in very rare cases, you can have loss of the eye itself."

Twenty-four million Americans wear contact lenses. If your contacts aren't properly cleaned, you put yourself at risk for a severe eye infection. But keep in mind, keeping your lenses clean also means keeping their case clean.

Dr. Paranjpe urges all contact lens wearers to not sleep in their contacts, scrub your case out with dish soap every day to keep in clean, then let it air dry, and always use fresh solution.

A common scenario is someone who sleeps in their contacts, then gets eye irritation that brings them in to the doctor. This is a situation where prompt medical attention is important. Letting it go could mean losing an eye.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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