Microbial contamination of therapeutic contact lenses after photorefractive keratectomy: a prospective analysis.

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine bacterial contamination in therapeutic contact lenses (TCLs) utilized following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and to identify factors correlated to positive culture outcomes.

Methods: This prospective study comprised 120 eyes from 60 patients who underwent bilateral PRK surgery at Farabi Eye Hospital in 2022. TCLs, applied postoperatively, were collected between the fifth and seventh days, placed in sterile containers with culture media, and analyzed for microbial growth. The documentation included patient demographic information, refractive status, preoperative conditions, culture results, and antibiotic susceptibility data.

Results: The results indicated microbial growth was detected in seven lenses, which accounts for 5.8% of the total number of lenses (120 TCLs). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (4 lenses, 2 methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS)), Escherichia coli (E. coli) (1 lens), diphtheroid (1 lens), and micrococcus species (1 lens) were the isolated organisms. The patients did not experience any instances of microbial keratitis during the study period. Patients with positive cultures demonstrated a significantly higher mean age (35.00 ± 7.09 years, P-value = 0.036). No significant gender disparities were identified (P-value = 0.263).

Conclusion: The incidence of microbial contamination in postoperative TCLs following PRK was minimal, with no occurrence of microbial keratitis. Older ages correlated with positive culture outcomes, highlighting the necessity for customized postoperative care approaches.