Do You Wear Contact Lenses? Here's How You Can Avoid the Latest Eye Infection
Once again a soft contact lens solution has been linked to a rare, but potentially blinding eye infection. Complete MoisturePlus multipurpose solution from Advanced Medical Optics has been recalled by the company after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week raised a red flag about infections with a parasitic amoeba called Acanthamoeba. People who use Complete MoisturePlus should stop using the solution and discard and replace their lenses and storage containers immediately, according to government officials.
The CDC reported that 138 cases of Acanthamoeba had been confirmed and that of the 46 people for whom complete data were available, 39 wore soft contacts. Of the people who wore contacts, 58 percent had used the Complete MoisturePlus solution. "But, 42 percent of the cases had nothing to do with that solution, which means there are other causes we don't know about yet," says Jack Schaeffer, the chairman of the American Optometric Association's Cornea and Contact Lens Section. Investigators are exploring how changes in chlorination practices, hygiene habits, and the adoption of new contact lens materials could influence infection rates.
The risk of Acanthamoeba for any individual contact lens wearer remains small. The incidence of the disease in the United States is approximately one to two cases per million contact lens users, but investigators estimate that using Complete MoisturePlus increased the risk sevenfold. People who think they may have the eye infection should see their doctor as soon as possible since it is more easily treated when caught early.
The key to prevention, emphasizes Schaeffer, is to practice good hygiene habits. Many people infected had worn their contacts while swimming or showering, suggesting they might have been exposed to Acanthamoeba that way. "Be careful when you're swimming; take your lenses out when you shower," says Schaeffer. He also recommends that you not clean or store contacts with tap water, switch lens solutions without speaking to an eye doctor, or wear lenses for longer than the manufacture recommends. It's important to see an eye doctor regularly, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before inserting or removing lenses, replace the cases at least once every three months, and remove lenses before any activities involving water, including showering, using a hot tub, or swimming.
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