cause a fungal infection
Dr. Ali Bukhamseen, head of optical services at King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, explained that there is a problem with some moisturizing solutions for lenses. Dr. Boukhamseen indicated that the American Center for Disease Control and Control recorded more than 130 cases of fungal keratitis for contact lens wearers, 89 of whom used some solutions. Dr. Bukhamseen denied monitoring any disease in the Kingdom of fungal keratitis due to the use of solutions that affect the cornea and stressed that it inevitably does not reach the degree of blindness, as some exaggerate it, and that infection with fungal keratitis begins with redness of the eye and tearing, with mild pain in the eye and a slight difference In normal vision, harassment from high light or sunlight, the presence of pus secretions and swelling in the eye. He explained that if the patient does not refer to the hospital or doctor urgently, this may lead to total vision loss and remove the eye in the event that the microbe penetrates the outer membranes of the eye, but if the infection is controlled. Often the patient needs a corneal transplant to restore vision in the affected eye. The head of visual services stressed that fungal keratitis is a serious infection, but it is very rare, noting that King Khalid Eye Hospital conducted a recent study by Dr. Ali Al-Rajhi and Dr. Sabah Jastinieh, where he was One of its most important results is that 13 cases of fungal keratitis were recorded during the past 19 years, and there was only one case in which the patient used contact lenses. Before the existence of the moisturizing solution, no cases were recorded after the solution entered the Saudi market in 2005. Dr. Boukhamseen advised all users of soft contact lenses quickly to go to the nearest hospital in case of abnormal symptoms, whether or not the lenses are in the eye, as well as with any type of Solutions.
He said that users of the moisturizing solution should not use it, change the lenses that were previously sterilized with it, and visit a specialist doctor to take all instructions from him, adding that the atmosphere in the Riyadh region is dry and dusty and dehydration reduces the level of tears in the eye that may reach an abnormal level, which affects the eye and during the presence of the lenses The water content of the lens decreases due to the lack of sufficient tears in the eye to compensate for that decrease, which causes the lens to lose its most important chemical properties and change its physical properties, resulting in a blurred vision and an uncomfortable feeling for the lens. Working on their cleanliness, because more than 80 percent of the problems with the lenses are caused by their uncleanliness and lack of wearing on rainy and changing days, and using them before applying cosmetics and eyeliner, and adhering to the time period specified for them and replacing them.
