Effect of lid closure on contact lens-associated Pseudomonas keratitis.

New or used extended-wear soft contact lenses, preincubated in suspensions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were placed on the corneas of rabbits. The lids were then sutured shut for either 1 or 2 weeks. Bacterial keratitis occurred in 9 of 9 eyes fitted with the used contaminated lenses but in none of 12 eyes fitted with new contaminated or new noncontaminated lenses. Similar experiments were carried out with other lenses specifically designed to fit the cornea of rabbits. Some of these lenses were preworn by rabbits for 1 week (used), whereas others were new. A significantly greater incidence of bacterial keratitis was found in eyes that had undergone lid closure after the placement of used contaminated lenses (4 of 5) than in closed eyes with new contaminated lenses (1 of 8) and in open eyes with used contaminated lenses (0 of 13). These findings suggest that extended eyelid closure is a risk factor in the experimental model and may be a factor in clinical Pseudomonas keratitis associated with the wearing of extended-wear soft contact lenses.