Posted: 12/02/08
If vision care if a concern for you, you may think your biggest battle is eye health insurance. However, according to a recent study, you should be more worried about pathogens in your contact lens case that can lead to vision loss.At a joint meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the European Society of Ophthalmology, Israeli researchers shared study results that showed pathogens were present in two-thirds of contact lens storage cases – even when disinfection solution was used.
The most common pathogen (41%) was Pseudomonas, which can cause severe corneal infections and even lead to vision loss. Fungal pathogens accounted for about 3.3% of contamination. Notably, researchers found that pathogens were present in all types of storage solutions, and some tested positive every time!
Researchers concluded that the commonly used disinfecting solutions provide little protection from contamination of contact lens storage cases. Contact lens users are advised to clean lenses frequently and replace regularly to prevent contamination. Periodic eye exams are always recommended, and can be very affordable with the use of eye health insurance.
Related Links
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_72163.html
