J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1998 Jul;39(7):1417-1426.

Epidemiology of Contact Lens Related Infectious Keratitis(1995.4 ~1997.9): Multi-center Study

• Tchah H
• Kim JC
• Hahn TW
• Hahn YH

Abstract

Epidemiologic study of contact lens related infectious keratitis was performed in 19 hospitals which were located nation wide, Two hundred eighteen cases of contact lens related infectious keratitis(male 55 patients, female 163 patients) were diagnosed among 649 infectious keratitis patients between April 1995 and September 1997. Patients were mainly in twenties (54.6%) and residents of Seoul and Pusan(65.6%). Their major occupations were student(31.7%) and office worker(25.5%). Soft contact lens was involved in infectious corneal ulcer in 96.8% and disposable lens in 13.3%. Lenses were puchased at optical shop in most cases (72%). Unfortunately, 51.6% of patients was not aware of possible contact lens complication and 66.7% was not able to use contact lens properly due to improper education. Pseudomonas was isolated from corneal ulcer in 65.4% of cases and Serratia in 9%. This study reveals that contact lens related infectious keratitis can be devastation disease especially socially active age group, and proper education of both contact lens usage and proper lens dispense system should be needed.

Keyword

Contact lens; Infectious keratitis; Epidemiology

MeSH Terms

Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic
Corneal Ulcer
Education
Epidemiologic Studies
Epidemiology*
Female
Humans
Keratitis
Occupations
Pseudomonas
Seoul
Serratia