Evaluation of Eye Drops and Eye Lenses Contamination

Abstract

Both medical drops and contact lenses can transfer pathogenic bacteria that are potentially dangerous to the eye if they neglect the safety steps that accompany their use. This research aims to assess the contaminants present in the folds of medical drops and on contact lenses to estimate the degree of risk associated with their use. Out of 125 drops used in the research, the percentage of contamination was 36.8%. The bacteria that were found developing on medicinal drops were the following Staphylococcus aureus, negative staph coagulants, Streptococcus sp., Haemophilus influenzae, Bacillus sp. and Coliform bacteria. 100 Lenses were distributed in two groups according to how long they were used. The contamination rate of contact lenses that were used on a daily basis reached 26.6%, while the contamination of contact lenses that were used on occasions only was 29%. It contained the following bacteria Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella and Lactobacillus.