Fungal corneal infection, soft CL use linked

MIAMI — An increased incidence of an aggressive form of fungal corneal infection may be related to soft contact lens use, according to a press release.

Eduardo C. Alfonso, MD, and colleagues at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute said in the release he treated an “unusually large number of patients with fusarium keratitis.” This particular type of keratitis is normally associated with eye trauma that involves plant fungus or vegetable matter or soil, the release said.

“This is quickly becoming a cause for alarm,” Dr. Alfonso said. The group learned of a “sudden increase in the number of cases” of this type of keratitis in the United States, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia, Dr. Alfonso said.

Bascom Palmer called the high incidence rate “unprecedented” as most corneal infections are bacterial in nature, the release said. “Soft contact lens use has been the only identified risk factor in the majority of cases” seen over a 3-month period at Bascom Palmer, the release said, where the group saw 21 cases, 12 of which were contact lens wearers. Between 2000 and 2005, the average number of cases per year of this type of keratitis was 21, the release said, and fewer than 2% are contact lens wearers.

Dr. Alfonso called it “imperative” that soft contact lens users are reminded about the safe handling, storage and cleaning of lenses.