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Microbial keratitis risk similar in contact lens patients vs. LASIK
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The risk for microbial keratitis was similar between patients using contact lenses for 1 year compared with patients who had undergone LASIK, according to a study in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
The literature review included eight studies on the use of soft daily-use and gas-permeable daily-use lenses and nine studies involving soft-extended contact lenses that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, spanning from 1998 to 2008.
At 1 year, daily wear of soft lenses resulted in significantly fewer cases of microbial keratitis per 10,000 wearers than extended wear of soft lenses, while daily wear of soft lenses led to more cases per 10,000 than GP daily wear.
When compared to post-LASIK patients and contact lens wearers, soft-extended contact lens wear had, on average and significantly, 12 more cases of microbial keratitis per 10,000 at 1 year, or approximately three times as many cases.
At 1 year, soft daily-wear lens use had more cases per 10,000 than LASIK; however, the difference did not make statistical significance.
At 10 years, both contact lens modalities also had significantly more cases of microbial keratitis per 10,000 than LASIK, according to researchers.
Daily use of GP lenses had significantly more cases of microbial keratitis per 10,000 patients than LASIK at 1 year; however, the level was at approximately the same between the two modalities at 5 years.
The researchers indicate that over time, the risk for microbial keratitis is higher for soft contact lens use than for LASIK, specifically for extended-wear lenses.
The researchers also propose that over time the risks of contact lens use and LASIK are closer than previously thought. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
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