Cosmetic Contact Research Articles

A web-based survey of contact lens-related adverse events among the Japanese female population

To assess the safety of cosmetic contact lenses and to identify other factors of contact lens (CL)-related complications for Japanese females. A web-based, cross-sectional, observational survey of complications related to CL use was performed. The frequencies of complications were compared between transparent and cosmetic CLs. Besides lens pigmentation, age, replacement schedule, total experience, daily wear time, location of purchase, stacking of CLs, CL exchange with friends, compliance to hygiene procedure, replacement of CLs at intervals longer than recommended, and CL wear overnight were considered as risk factors. Logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate the odds ratios. A total of 3803 Japanese females were analyzed. The frequency of adverse events was 33.4% (95%CI 31.3–35.4%) and 35.7% (95%CI 33.5–38.0%) for transparent and cosmetic CLs, respectively. In a multivariate model, statistically significant factors associated with complications included the following: quarterly schedule lenses, replacement at intervals longer than recommended, compliance to hygiene procedure, overnight wearing, purchase at physical shops and on the internet, and longer daily wearing time. Most of the risk-increasing behaviors are preventable. The role of public health ophthalmology is to increase awareness and to improve CL use behaviors.

Bilateral Pseudomonas aeruginosa Keratitis in 7 Patients.

To report 7 patients (14 eyes) with bilateral Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis (PAK). Case records of patients with bilateral PAK were reviewed at a single academic medical center from April 2009 to December 2020. Seven patients aged 29 to 94 years presented with bilateral P. aeruginosa corneal ulcers. All patients were soft contact lens wearers except one elderly patient with a complex ocular history. Three patients wore specialty contact lens, including one cosmetic contact lens wearer, one multifocal contact lens wearer, and one extended-wear contact lens wearer. The remaining three patients were not overnight contact lens wearer but regularly showered in contact lens or used tap water for contact lens case cleaning. All patients presented with asymmetric disease, with visual acuity ranging from 20/20 to light perception. Ulcers were located centrally in 5 eyes (35.7%), diffusely over the entire cornea in 5 eyes (35.7%), temporally in 2 eyes (14.2%), and nasally in 1 eye (7.14%), and in 1 eye (8.3%), the ulcer location was not recorded. Corneal thinning was noted in 7 eyes (50%). Hypopyon was also noted in 7 eyes (50%). Two patients required procedures because of progressive stromal necrosis. All other patients were treated nonsurgically, with antibiotic drops, which resulted in ulcer resolution. Final visual acuity on last recorded follow-up ranged from 20/20 to no light perception. This is the largest case series of bilateral PAK, which occurred primarily in contact lens wearer. This case series reiterates the risk of contact lens infection related to poor hygiene.

Cosmetic Contact Lens-Related Corneal Infections in Asia

To explore demographics, disease characteristics, and wear habits in cosmetic contact lens (CL)-related corneal infections in Asia. Prospective multicenter cross-sectional study. Cases of CL-related corneal infection presenting over a 12-month period were prospectively identified from 11 centers in 8 countries in Asia. Case demographics, clinical features, microbiology, and compliance characteristics were compared between wearers using CLs for cosmetic purposes and those using CLs for the correction of refractive errors. Six hundred and ninety-four CL wearers with corneal infection presented: 204 cosmetic CL (29.4%) and 490 (70.6%) refractive CL wearers. Cosmetic CL infections comprised 7%-54% of cases across the region. Compared with noncosmetic CL wearers, cosmetic CLs wearers were significantly more likely to be female (90% vs 59%), young (aged <25, 68% vs 44%), and to have a shorter period of wear experience. Lenses worn by cosmetic CL wearers were more likely to be hydrogel materials and manufactured with the pigment located on the back surface of the CL. Presenting disease characteristics and visual outcomes were similar in both groups. Causative organisms were similar between the 2 groups; however, there was a higher rate of Acanthamoeba disease (9%) in cosmetic wearers, compared with refractive wearers (1%; P < .005). Cosmetic CL infections represent a significant proportion of CL-related infections in Asia. Cosmetic CL users with corneal infections are generally young, female, and wearing hydrogel CLs. Internet supply, quality control, and regulation of the sale of these products provide significant challenges in managing this population of vulnerable wearers.

Microbiological analysis of contact lens cases and effective health behaviors

Introduction: Contact lenses are increasingly being used for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes, followed by subsequent contamination and complications such as keratitis. The lens case is one of the most common places to find the cause of contamination. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the health behaviors affecting the lens case contamination and its relationship with the result of lens case culture which can help in prevention of complications. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study that was performed in northwest of Iran, 150 asymptomatic participants were assessed for health behaviors affecting the lens case contamination and their lens cases were sampled for culture and antibiogram. Data were analyzed with SPSS-16 software. Results: The frequency of positive microbial culture in medical and cosmetic contact lens cases was 30.7% and 66.8%, respectively and 32.7% in general. Among the isolated bacteria observed in positive cultures, Alcaligenes,Enterobacter aerogenes, gram-positive Diphtheroid bacilli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most common microorganisms, respectively. Conclusion: A significant proportion of contact lens cases, especially those used for cosmetic purposes had bacterial contamination. Failure to replace the lens case for more than 9 months and the mismatch of the lens solution brand with its storage case will increase bacterial contamination. Washing the lens case with soap and water, and drying it after washing, will reduce bacterial contamination.

중·고등학교 및 대학교 여학생을 대상으로 실시한 투명·미용 소프트 콘택트렌즈 착용 및 관리 실태 조사

목적: 소프트 콘택트렌즈 착용 및 관리 실태를 조사하여 렌즈 종류와 연령대별 착용자 간 차이가 있는지 알아보았다. 방법: 2018년 5월부터 7월까지 소프트 콘택트렌즈를 착용중인 중·고등학교 및 대학교 여학생 153명(중학생: 52명, 고등학생: 41명, 대학생: 60명)을 대상으로 착용 및 관리 실태에 관한 설문을 시행하였다. 결과: 미용 콘택트렌즈를 착용하는 경우(62.09%)가 투명 콘택트렌즈(37.91%) 보다 2배가량 높았으며, 착용 목적으로는 미용상 착용하는 비율(51.63%)이 가장 높았다. 콘택트렌즈의 유효 착용 기간보다 오래 착용하는 경우(45.75%)와 콘택트렌즈를 착용하고 화장을 하는 경우(84.97%)가 많았으며, 보관 용기(73.72%)와 보관 용액(49.02%)의 교체주기를 잘 모르는 경우가 많았다. 보관용액의 유통기한을 정확하게 인지하지 못하고 사용하는 사람이 75.82%로 높은 수치를 보였다. 보관 용기를 올바르게 세척하지 않는 인원은 65.23%로 과반수가 적절하게 관리하지 못하고 있었다. 콘택트렌즈 구매시 교육받은 비율은 투명 렌즈와 미용 렌즈 착용자를 서로 비교했을 때 차이가 없었지만, 연령대별로 비교했을 때 중학생이 고등학생과 대학생보다 관리 방법을 안내받은 비율이 더 높았다(p＜0.05). 결론: 소프트 콘택트렌즈 착용 여학생들은 유효 착용 기간, 착용 시 화장법, 보관 용기와 용액의 관리 방법 등에 대해 정확히 숙지하지 못하고 있었다. 따라서 처음 착용하는 시기인 10대 초반뿐 만 아니라 고등학생 및 20대에서도 지속적인 교육 및 안내가 필요할 것이다.

ToF-SIMS and AFM Characterization of Brown Cosmetic Contact Lenses: From Structural Analysis to the Identification of Pigments.

Over the years, soft contact lenses for vision correction and cosmetic and therapeutic purposes have been greatly improved. For cosmetic contact lenses, the pigments need to be nontoxic, and the position of the pigment layer is particularly important because of the risks posed by pigment elution and the roughness of the lens surface. In this paper, we characterized the properties of brown cosmetic contact lenses made by three different manufacturers using surface analytical techniques. The surface topographies of the noncolored and colored parts were obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the position and composition of the pigment layer were determined by analyzing the cross section of the contact lenses using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The influence of pigment location on surface roughness was also examined. In addition, to find the method of the evaluation for the risk of surface elution of the pigments in the colored parts, the mass spectra and ion images of the surfaces were obtained by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) with a new sample preparation. From the ToF-SIMS spectra, we observed specific fragment ions of the poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) polymer and found differences in the composition of the pigment layer depending on the manufacturers. The cross-sectioned image and 3D chemical characterizations of metallic and specific ions in the brown cosmetic contact lenses clearly indicated the spatial distribution and location of the pigment layer that can be used for the evaluation of pigment elution.

Atypical Presentation of Acanthamoeba Keratitis in a Contact Lens Wearer

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a serious infection that can lead to loss of vision. It is highly challenging and often poses a diagnostic dilemma, causing delay in diagnosis and treatment. We report herewith the clinical and histopathology findings of a patient with an atypical presentation of acanthamoeba keratitis in Bahrain. The patient is a 16-year-old Bahraini teenager who was a cosmetic contact lens wearer. She presented with clinical signs and symptoms of microbial keratitis, which was initially misdiagnosed elsewhere as a case of herpetic corneal infection. Her corneal biopsy confirmed the clinical diagnosis as acanthamoeba keratitis. The patient was started on anti amoebic treatment. The infection got eradicated. The cornea healed with a central scar. Eventually, she underwent penetrating keratoplasty. This case report serves to raise awareness of this rare condition. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion when diagnosing such cases among contact lens wearers. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent serious complications.

Analysis of P. aeruginosa disinfectant sensitivity and microbial adhesions to worn cosmetic contact lenses

PurposeTo compare the sensitivity of two genotypes of P. aeruginosa to various disinfectant solutions and analyze the attached bacteria on worn cosmetic contact lenses (cosCLs). MethodsIn this prospective study, healthy volunteers wore etafilcon (brown), nelfilcon (gray), or hilafilcon (black) cosCLs and microbial adhesion analysis was performed. A rub-off test determined pigment dislodgement. Disinfectant sensitivity to Optifree Replenish (Alcon), Optifree Pure Moist (Alcon), Renu Fresh (Bausch & Lomb), and AoSept Plus (Ciba Vision) was tested at various disinfection times and compared between various genotypes and Type III secretion (T3S) system mutants. ResultsOf the 1152 cosCLs collected, 364 were culture positive (32%). The highest rate of culture-positive lens was hilafilcon (chi square, P = 0.0001). Hilafilcon also had a significantly greater number of isolates than etafilcon (P < 0.0001). Hilafilcon was the only lens to fail the rub-off test. Cytotoxic strains were significant more resistant to Renu Fresh than were invasive strains, even at 100% of recommended disinfection time (P = 0.0005). Of the tested disinfectants, Renu Fresh was significantly less effective in killing both genotypes of P. aeruginosa compared to AoSept Plus at all time points (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% recommended disinfection time, P = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0005, and 0.0005, respectively). When the T3S system was dysfunctional, mutant strains were all susceptible to disinfectants (P = 0.0001 for both invasive and cytotoxic strains). ConclusionPseudomonas species is commonly found on cosCLs of asymptomatic individuals. Wearers of cosCLs that dislodge pigments may be predisposed to microbial contamination. Cytotoxic strains are more resistant to disinfectant solutions, especially to Renu Fresh. P. aeruginosa disinfectant resistance requires a functional T3S system.

Identifying Pigment Enclosure in Cosmetic Contact Lenses.

The presence of surface pigment in cosmetic contact lenses may influence possible ocular health issues and contact lens discomfort. Two in vitro test methods were developed to investigate whether a variety of cosmetic contact lenses are manufactured with a visible clear layer, indicating that the pigment bulk is enclosed within the lens matrix. Two in vitro test methods using bright field microscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were developed to assess whether a clear layer in a cosmetic contact lens could be identified. The OCT instrument in this study provided a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.4 μm in the identification of a clear layer. The cross-sectioning microscopy method described in this article requires a trained technician to execute; however, the LOD is smaller at 0.4 μm. Both test methods described were used to assess whether a clear layer could be identified on 19 commercially available cosmetic contact lens products across six manufacturers. Only one of the six manufacturers (5 of 19 products) produced lens images in which a clear layer was identified using either method. Most of cosmetic contact lenses analyzed in this study contain the bulk of the pigment within 0.4 μm of the surface (beyond the limit of detection of the instruments used in this study) or on the surface itself.

Use and misuse of cosmetic contact lenses among US adolescents in Southeast Texas.

BackgroundCosmetic contact lenses (CCL) are popular among adolescents, but incorrect use can harm the eye.MethodsThis study assessed CCL hygiene behaviors among adolescents attending a Texas pediatric clinic. Anonymous surveys about CCL hygiene practices were administered to adolescents 13–18 years old.ResultsWe found that 14% (53/392) of respondents had worn CCL, of which 83% were females. Over 70% reported first use at <15 years old. Knowledge about CCL was low and two-thirds of users had not been instructed on proper care. More than half stored them in water and did not rinse them with contact solution after removal. Over one-third wore CCL >8 hours/day. Moreover, 15% of CCL users reported borrowing someone else’s CCL. Complications resulting from wearing CCL were common.ConclusionThis study highlights poor CCL hygiene among adolescents. These data demonstrate the need to develop interventions to educate adolescents on proper care and risks associated with CCLs.

Knowledge and Use of Cosmetic Contact Lenses Among Reproductive-Age Women.

To assess use, knowledge, and complications of cosmetic contact lenses (CCLs) among women of reproductive age. A cross-sectional, anonymous self-administered survey assessing cosmetic or decorative contact lens knowledge and experiences was completed by 686 women in Texas in 2017. Main outcome measures were use, knowledge, and associated complications. Almost 1 in 4 women (164/686) reported prior use of CCLs and most had worn the lenses >3 times. Women born in the United States, who knew someone who wore cosmetic lenses, or had visited an eye doctor in the past year were more likely to have used CCLs. Knowledge scores were low and the majority of cosmetic lens users experienced complications (61%). The most frequently reported complications were eye pain and discomfort (35%); itchy, watery eyes (34%); and red, swollen eyes (28%). Borrowing lenses was significantly associated with medical complications (88% of borrowers reported complications). Among 18 respondents who sought medical attention for a CCL-related problem, only 11% obtained care within 24 hours. Few participants had discussed CCL use with an eye doctor in the past year. Many U.S. women have used CCLs obtained from unauthorized sources. Knowledge of safe practices is very limited and most users develop complications. Interventions are needed to educate the public about the risk of CCL use to reduce adverse outcomes.

박명시 환경에서 미용 소프트 콘택트렌즈 착용 시 시각 성능 평가에 관한 연구

박명시 환경에서 미용 소프트 콘택트렌즈 착용 시 시각 성능 평가에 관한 연구

Comparison of the Lubricity and Surface Roughness of 5 Cosmetic Contact Lenses

Objectives:Cosmetic contact lenses are increasingly popular because of their eye enhancing cosmetic benefits. The pigment particles used in these lenses can impact lens surface characteristics. This article examines the surface characteristics and the differences between the clear and the pigmented regions among five limbal ring design lenses.Methods:Scanning electron microscopy was used to determine the location and depth of the pigment particles from the lens surface. The coefficient of friction (CoF) was determined with a Basalt-MUST microtribometer at clear and pigmented regions on either the front or the back surface. Atomic force microscopy was used to determine the surface roughness of each lens in root-mean-square (RMS) units at clear and pigmented regions. A linear mixed model for repeated measures was used for the analysis of the CoF and RMS roughness to compare all lenses.Results:Four lens types had pigments exposed on the surface and one lens type had pigment fully enclosed. The CoF difference between clear and pigmented regions were similar and not statistically significant (P=0.0124) for the lens type with pigments enclosed, whereas the CoF difference for the other four lens types showed statistically significant difference (P<0.0001).Conclusions:Of the lenses tested here, cosmetic contact lenses with pigments enclosed in the lens matrix provided a more consistent surface between clear and pigmented regions compared with lenses that had exposed pigments.

In Vitro Evaluation of Adhesion of Two Acanthamoeba Strains to Cosmetic Contact Lenses.

To evaluate the factors affecting the adhesion of Acanthamoeba trophozoites to the surface of cosmetic contact lenses (CCLs). Acanthamoeba castellanii and A. hatchetti trophozoites were inoculated onto CCLs (hema copolymer [HM] [38.5% H2O], phemfilcon [PF] [55% H2O], polymacon [PM] [38% H2O], polyhema [PH] [%42 H2O], and hema [HM55] [55% H2O]), and the number of trophozoites adhered to the lens surfaces was assessed over time, that is, at 15 min, 1, and 24 hr. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the lens surfaces was performed to evaluate the effect of lens surface topology on adhesion. The number of amoeba adhered to the contact lens surface was found lower with PF and PH production materials, than lenses with HM, PM, and HM55 production materials (P<0.05). No significant difference was detected in amoebic strains adhered in all the contact lens types (P>0.05). No significant difference was found on average amoeba adhesion between contact lenses with hema production material but with different water contents (45%, 55%), to see the effect of water content on amoebic adhesion (P>0.05). As a result of SEM analysis, surface topology showed no effect on adhesion. (1) Chemical composition of lenses seemed to be mostly responsible for the adhesion of Acanthamoeba. (2) Different numbers of trophozoites, obtained after the adhesion experiment, could also indicate that adherence capacity can also differ among Acanthamoeba species.

A review of cosmetic contact lens infections.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the existing literature surrounding cosmetic contact lens infections. In this paper, lens-related, dispensing-related and patient-related factors are examined in detail.

Contact Lens Classification by Using Segmented Lens Boundary Features

Recent studies have shown that the wearing of soft lens may lead to performance degradation with the increase of false reject rate. However, detecting the presence of soft lens is a non-trivial task as its texture that almost indiscernible. In this work, we proposed a classification method to identify the existence of soft lens in iris image. Our proposed method starts with segmenting the lens boundary on top of the sclera region. Then, the segmented boundary is used as features and extracted by local descriptors. These features are then trained and classified using Support Vector Machines. This method was tested on Notre Dame Cosmetic Contact Lens 2013 database. Experiment showed that the proposed method performed better than state of the art methods.

Impact of disinfecting solution released from cosmetic contact lenses on human corneal epithelial cells

Purpose: To investigate the effects of release of disinfecting solutions from cosmetic contact lenses (CCLs) with surface pigments on human corneal epithelial cells.

Contact Lenses and Infectious Keratitis

We review the evolution of contact lenses, risk factors for contact lens-related infectious keratitis, and updates on management. Infectious keratitis is still a devastating complication of contact lens use, with improper lens hygiene and use as significant risk factors. Cosmetic contact lenses have become popular among the younger generations. They can be obtained online without a doctor’s prescription or supervision, leading to an increased risk of serious infection. Topical antibiotics remain the best treatment for bacterial keratitis, but resistance to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones has increased. Fungal ulcers fare worse than bacterial ulcers, with no new commercially available topical treatments since topical natamycin. Despite the well-established link between water exposure of contact lenses and development of Acanthamoeba keratitis, patients still regularly expose their lenses to tap water. Corneal cross-linking, new methods for antimicrobial drug delivery, and novel antimicrobial targets represent the next frontiers in the treatment of infectious keratitis. Contact lens-related infectious keratitis remains a serious cause of ocular morbidity, with the rates of atypical causative organisms (Acanthamoeba and fungus) on the rise. Strategies for risk reduction include prevention through patient education; collaboration with industry to develop novel antimicrobials, lens materials, and care system products; and reporting of infections and illegal sale of contact lenses to regulatory agencies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Combating Bacterial Adhesion and Protein Deposition on Cosmetic Contact Lenses using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

CONTACT lenses (CLs) are frequently used for medical or cosmetic purposes. Readily available cosmetic contact lenses (CCLs) sold at night market and lack of awareness, represent the main reasons for microbial keratitis (MK) and consequently losing sight. MK arises from bacterial contamination of lenses, lens casing and solutions. Improper handling and unhygienic use of the CLs allow pathogens to adhere and produce biofilm on its surface. This study aims to evaluate the adherence ability of pathogenic bacterial strains isolated from worn CCLs and the potentiality of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on their colonization in absence and presence of two types of deposited proteins. The results revealed that all the isolated strains had the ability to produce strong biofilm. ZnONPs highly affected the biofilm formation ability of the tested strains and significantly decreased their adherence on the tested proteins coated lenses. Using scanning field emission electron microscopy; extensive colonization covering CCLs surface of control and lysozyme coated lenses was observed. While micrographs illustrated that ZnONPs are effective in restraining bacterial colonization with deformed cells on the surface of lysozyme coated lenses. In addition, the data exhibited that 75% of the tested packaging solutions were highly contaminated with bacteria, so they were subjected to increasing doses of gamma- radiation. The results proved that 6.0kGy was sufficient to eliminate bacterial bio burden of the tested solutions. It may be hoped that the present study will encourage efforts towards the development of novel antibacterial agents against microbial infection of CCLs.

CONSEQUENCES OF BURN INJURY OF ADNEXA IN CHILDREN. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SURGICAL TREATMENT

Аim. Тo assess the effectiveness of surgical treatment of consequences of burn injury of adnexa in children. Material and methods. The analysis of clinical material over the past 10 years. The clinical group consisted of 59 patients (44 - male, 15 - female) with the consequences of burn injury of adnexa in age from 2 months to 18 years (m = 9.17 ±3.23 years). The burn trauma were the following: thermal (flame, hot objects, gas explosion) - 43, chemical (acid, alkali) - 11, combined (melted lead/glass) - 5. The time that has passed after the burn until the first stage of surgical treatment ranged from 1 month to 2 years (m= 9.7 ± 5.1 months). The author describes in detail the clinical picture, noting that significant lagophthalmos is dominated by the consequences of thermal burns, the consequences of chemical burns occurred entropion, symblepharon, leucoma. 11 patients had anophthalmos. In all, 121 operations were performed in 59 patients (1 to 4 stages, m = 2,1±1,1) with an interval from 3 to 12 months (m=8.3 months): removal of lagophthalmos with method of local plastics or free skin grafting; elimination of symblepharon or reconstruction of the conjunctival cavity with lips/cheeks’ mucous grafting; the strengthening of the eyelids’ edges, eyelashes plastic. The technics of the operation is described. Follow up period for patients from 6 months to 13 years (m=6,7±2,1). Results. Wound healing in all cases took place in the usual time. Skin sutures were removed after 7-9 days, traction sutures in 3 weeks, blepharorophy in 1-6 months. Engraftment of the transplanted free skin and mucous’ grafts was without a significant reduction. Visual function were preserved and improved in all the cases (44 patients). Cosmetic contact lenses were chosen in 4 patients with Vis = 0. A stable position of the prosthesis achieved in patients with anophthalmos. Conclusion. Consequences of burn injury of adnexa in children are diverse and require a differentiated approach to the choice of timing, priority, and methods of surgical treatment. Eyelid plasty is advisable to perform in the “cold” period after the completion of processes of scar tissue formation in the absence of threats to the condition of the eye.. Reconstruction should be performed at any time to prevent the development of ulcers or perforation of the cornea in the presence of the inversion of eyelids, symblepharon, significant lagophthalmos causing suffering of cornea.