Attachment of bacteria to soft contact lenses
S. A. Fowler, J. V. Greiner and M. R. Allansmith
A total of 25 soft contact lenses from 17 asymptomatic contact lens wearers
and eight patients with contact lens-associated giant papillary
conjunctivitis were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Structures
that resembled bacteria were present on the anterior surface of seven
lenses. All lenses showed a coating of granular mucus-like deposits. Some
bacteria were seen scattered randomly over the surface, with no apparent
attachment to the lens, whereas others were attached to the coated surface
by thin, flagella-like foot processes, the distal ends of which were
unattached. These attached bacteria were cylindrical in shape. Several
bacteria showed a constriction centrally. Some bacteria were covered by the
surface coating, while others, which were round to ovoid in shape, appeared
partially embedded in the coating itself. Aggregations of bacteria were
seen around clumps of mucus-like debris.
