As reported at the ACVO annual meeting in Waikoloa, Hawaii, there has been an alarming rise in fungal infections among lens wearers. Causes may be related in part to lens solutions as well as poor hygienic care by patients. There is a large percentage of patients who suffer some loss of vision, nearly one third requiring a corneal replacement to restore sight.
The rise in fungus infections was noted first in 2005 by the CDC, and it is often associated with loss of sight.
Editor’s note: this report is consistent with a report issued by Dr Dello Russo in 2007.