Superficial punctate keratopathy and bacterial growth in patients with unilateral aphakia using extended-wear soft contact lenses.

We prospectively examined corneal conditions and bacterial growth in 77 individuals with unilateral aphakia who were using extended-wear soft contact lenses. The ratios of positive bacterial growth (70.6-79.4%) from 34 patients with superficial punctate keratopathy were significantly higher than those (41.9-46.5%) from the 43 subjects with normal corneas. Bacterial growth was found frequently in patients with superficial punctate keratopathy who were older than 80 years and in those using soft contact lenses for more than 22 days. Several kinds of bacteria grew from the specimens. Among the most common were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium species. Pseudomonas aeruginosa grew from patients with superficial punctate keratopathy who were using extended-wear soft contact lenses.