Evaluation of microbial flora of the eye during wear of soft contact lenses

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The microflora of the eye was monitored in 21 patients during a 6-mo. period to study changes resulting from wear of soft contact lenses. A minimum of 20 cul-de-sac cultures were taken from each patient. Of cultures taken prior to lens wear, 51% were positive for microbial growth; after lens wear, positive cultures ranged from 14.3-30.9% over the 6-mo. period. There was no qualitative change in the flora during the 6-mo. period. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most frequently isolated organism, followed by Micrococcus spp., diphtheroids and Bacillus spp. Nonfermentative, gram-negative rods and fungi were isolated sporadically. Bacterial growth was sparse from all specimens, but individual differences were found. The microflora of the eye appears to resemble that of the skin, suggesting that the eye has no real flora of its own, but has a transient flora supplied from the skin, possibly the eyelid.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: