How do frequent eye infections affect contact lens user satisfaction?

From the Guidelines

Frequent eye infections significantly reduce contact lens user satisfaction by causing discomfort, interrupting lens wear, and potentially leading to serious complications. Contact lens wearers experiencing recurrent infections should consult an eye care professional immediately and consider switching to daily disposable lenses, which have lower infection rates 1. When infections occur, treatment typically includes removing contacts, using prescribed antibiotic eye drops such as moxifloxacin (Vigamox) or ciprofloxacin four times daily for 7-10 days, and temporarily switching to glasses. To prevent infections, users should practice strict hygiene including:

• Handwashing before handling lenses
• Using fresh solution daily
• Replacing cases every three months
• Avoiding water exposure while wearing lenses
• Adhering to recommended replacement schedules These infections often result from bacterial contamination (commonly Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus), which can form biofilms on lenses and cases 1. The resulting symptoms—redness, pain, discharge, light sensitivity, and blurred vision—not only cause immediate discomfort but also create anxiety about future lens wear, leading many users to reduce wearing time or abandon contacts altogether, significantly impacting their quality of life and satisfaction with this vision correction method. Daily disposable contact lenses have been shown to significantly reduce the relative risk of microbial keratitis compared with planned replacement soft contact lenses and rigid gas permeable contact lenses 1. Therefore, switching to daily disposable lenses and practicing strict hygiene are crucial for preventing infections and maintaining contact lens user satisfaction.

From the FDA Drug Label

1. 3 Avoidance of Contact Lens Wear Patients should be advised not to wear contact lenses if they have signs or symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis

• Frequent eye infections can lead to bacterial conjunctivitis, which may require patients to avoid wearing contact lenses.
• The presence of bacterial conjunctivitis can indirectly imply that frequent eye infections may reduce contact lens user satisfaction due to the need to avoid wearing contact lenses during infection.
• However, the FDA drug label does not directly address the impact of frequent eye infections on contact lens user satisfaction.
• Therefore, based on the available information, it can be inferred that frequent eye infections may negatively affect contact lens user satisfaction due to the inconvenience and discomfort associated with avoiding contact lens wear during infections 2.

From the Research

Frequent Eye Infections and Contact Lens User Satisfaction

• Frequent eye infections can significantly reduce contact lens user satisfaction, as they can cause discomfort, pain, and vision problems 3.
• Contact lens-related eye infections, such as microbial keratitis, can be caused by poor contact lens hygiene, including sleeping in lenses, exposing lenses to water, and not adhering to replacement schedules 4, 5, 6.
• Studies have shown that a significant percentage of contact lens wearers report experiencing eye problems, including redness, pain, and discomfort, which can lead to decreased satisfaction with contact lens wear 5, 3.
• The annual incidence of contact lens-associated keratitis is estimated to be 2-4/10,000, and it is often caused by bacteria, with less common causes including acanthamoebae and fungi 3.
• Proper contact lens hygiene and care are essential to prevent eye infections and ensure user satisfaction, including regular cleaning and disinfection of lenses, replacement of lenses as recommended, and avoidance of sharing contact lens solutions or cases 4, 5, 6.

Risk Factors for Contact Lens-Related Eye Infections

• Sleeping in contact lenses is a significant risk factor for eye infections, with nearly one third of contact lens wearers reporting this behavior 4, 6.
• Exposing contact lenses to water, such as swimming or showering with lenses in, can also increase the risk of eye infections 5, 6.
• Not adhering to replacement schedules and reusing disinfecting solution can also contribute to the development of eye infections 4, 5, 6.
• Adolescent and young adult contact lens wearers may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as sleeping in lenses or exposing lenses to water, which can increase their risk of eye infections 6.

Strategies for Preventing Eye Infections and Improving User Satisfaction

• Eye care providers play a crucial role in educating contact lens wearers about proper hygiene and care practices, including regular cleaning and disinfection of lenses and replacement of lenses as recommended 4, 7.
• Targeted prevention messages can be effective in reducing the risk of eye infections, particularly among adolescent and young adult contact lens wearers 5, 6.
• Regular check-ups with an eye care provider can help identify potential problems and prevent eye infections, improving overall user satisfaction with contact lens wear 4, 7.