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Study shows contact lens case hygiene improved by effective instructions
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Patients who wear contact lenses run a lesser risk of gram-negative bacteria contamination if they receive better instructions, according to a study published in Optometry and Vision Science.
Tilia and colleagues evaluated data from 16 3-month daily-wear studies involving six silicone hydrogel contact lenses and seven lens care solutions. The researchers noted in their study that verbal instructions to rinse contact lens cases with lens care solution and not tap water were given verbally in nine studies. Those same instructions were given both verbally and in writing in the other seven studies. The researchers conducted surveys on contact lens case hygiene and analyzed the actual cases for contamination.
Results showed that patients given both sets of instructions were more likely to comply with contact lens case hygiene instructions and less likely to have cases contaminated with gram-negative bacteria (GNB).
"Lens case hygiene can be improved by effective communication of instructions. Contact lens wearers should be actively discouraged from rinsing contact lens cases with tap water because of the increased risk of GNB contamination," the authors concluded.
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