Abstract:AIM: To determine the rate of bacterial colonization in hydrogel disposable contact lenses and solutions and to identify the contaminating organisms. METHODS: A cross sectional study with purposive sampling was carried out. One hundred hydrogel contact lenses were collected from wearers among undergraduate students of Health Campus, University Sains Malaysia. All lenses and storage solutions were sent for microbiological culture and gram staining. RESULTS: The majority of study participants were females (98%). The mean age was 21.36±1.63 years. Forty-one subject participants (82%) showed positive bacterial colonization of the lenses. From storage solutions 32% yielded positive colonization by bacteria. The most common organisms were coagulase negative staphylococcus, Staph aureus and streptococci while Pseudomonas sp. and Serratia sp. were isolated more frequently from contact lenses. CONCLUSION: Contact lens wearing is potentially dangerous as a result of high rate of bacterial colonization of the lenses and its storage solutions. Extreme precaution and adherence to strict hygienic practice is recommended during lens handling and wearing.
