Eight Cases of Microbial Growth in Soft Contact Lenses

Park, Meeg Yeoung; Tchah, Hung Won

Abstract

Microbial growth(including fungal growth in 6 cases) was detected in 8 soft contact lenses Among the contact lens wearers who visited the Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, between May, 1990 and Nov, 1990, contact lens deposits were easily recognized with naked eye and it was not removed by conventional cleaning methods, such as chemical cleaners and enzymatic agents. We examined these deposits under the microscope and found them microbial colonies. Isolation of microorganisms from the contact lenses and storage solutions was attempted in order to identify them. Direct microscopic observation of colonies grown in the contact lenses made it possible to identify 5 out of 10 cases. Growths of four cases were identified as Actinomyces sp., Trichothecium sp., Dermatophilus congolensis, Alternaria sp., and one case was found mixed growth of Humicolor sp. and Fusarium sp. Other 3 cases were highly suspected as fungus. Culure of the eight storage solutions were all revealed Serratia marcescens Our patients showed foreign body sense and redness in all 8 cases, superficial punctate keratitis in 1 case, and corneal erosion in 1 case.