Lax Contact Lens Use Main Cause for Infections
A new government report says sloppy care of contact lenses is a main reason for hundreds of thousands of eye infections each year.
The reports estimates that there are nearly 1 million patient visits to doctor's offices, clinics and hospitals for treatment of an infection of the cornea called keratitis (kehr-uh-TEYE-sis). Most cases are mild irritations or redness, but a very small number are severe and can lead to blindness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the report Thursday.
CDC officials say keratitis often occurs when contact lenses are worn overnight or are not properly cleaned or stored.
About 38 million Americans wear contact lenses. Other researchers have estimated 1 to 10 percent suffer keratitis or other eye problems.
Click here to enter the Beyond the Lights sweepstakes and win an all-expense paid trip to Black Girls Rock!
Watch Kevin Hart in a new episode of Real Husbands of Hollywood every Tuesday, 10P/9C.
BET Health News - We go beyond the music and entertainment world to bring you important medical information and health-related tips of special relevance to Blacks in the U.S. and around the world. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
(Photo: 237/Sam Edwards/Ocean/Corbis)