In a study, a team of researchers discovered that people who wear reusable contact lenses are almost four times more likely to develop a rare eye infection that could endanger their vision than people who use daily disposables.

The case-control study conducted by UCL and Moorfields researchers found a number of factors that raise the risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), including wearing lenses overnight or in the shower and reusing lenses. The findings were published in Ophthalmology.

The researchers enrolled 200 patients of Moorfields Eye Hospital, including 83 people with AK, and compared them with 122 participants who attended eye care clinics with different conditions as a control group. 

It was observed that reusable soft contact lens wearers (such as monthly wearers) had a 3.8 times higher risk of AK than daily disposable lens wearers. Wearing lenses overnight increased the risk of AK by 3.9 times, whereas showering with lenses increased the risk by 3.3 times. The risk of infection rose when daily disposable lens wearers reused their lenses. The trouble is reduced if the contact lenses are checked by a medical expert recently.

Hence, experts advise that the contact lens packaging should provide information on lens safety and risk avoidance and follow simple contact lens hygiene precautions, which can help prevent infections. (HindustanTimes, Sep 23, 2022)

https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/reusable-contact-lens-users-are-more-likely-to-develop-rare-eye-infection-study-101663936443318.html