J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2014 May;55(5):646-655. 10.3341/jkos.2014.55.5.646.

Comparison of Surface Roughness and Bacterial Adhesion between Cosmetic Contact Lenses and Conventional Contact Lenses

• Ji YW
• Hong SH
• Chung DY
• Kim EK
• Lee HK

• KMID: 2218084
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2014.55.5.646

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine the surface roughness of cosmetic and conventional contact lenses (CLs) and their susceptibility to bacterial adhesion.
METHODS
Concave surface roughness of cosmetic and conventional hydrogel (Etafilcon A) CLs was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In particular, the surface of the color tinted area of cosmetic CLs was measured. CLs were immersed into a bacterial solution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for 1, 12, or 24 hours and culture of P. aeruginosa that had adhered to the CLs was performed.
RESULTS
Concave surface roughness of cosmetic CLs significantly increased compared with conventional CLs by AFM (p < 0.05). Bacterial colony formation of P. aeruginosa adhering to cosmetic CLs within one hour significantly increased compared with conventional CLs (p = 0.047). Adhesions of P. aeruginosa to CLs within one hour was found to correlate significantly with the surface roughness of CL (r > 0.9, p < 0.05). By SEM, P. aeruginosa had adhered to the color-tinted area more than to the non-color-tinted area of cosmetic CLs.
CONCLUSIONS
Surface of cosmetic CLs was significantly rougher and initial adhesion of bacteria was higher to cosmetic CLs than to conventional CLs. In particular, an increased number of bacteria was found to be adhered to the color-tinted area of cosmetic CLs. Initial bacterial adhesion is important because it is the first stage of bacterial attachment process to any surface. After then, the adherent bacteria can progress to form a biofilm. Increased surface roughness of CLs contributes to opportunities for the CL to come into contact with bacteria, and thus, initial bacterial adhesion increases. In this study, it is clear that cosmetic CLs are more vulnerable to bacterial adhesion. To avoid serious complications, such as bacterial keratitis, the manufacturing process for smoothing and treating the surface in order to inhibit bacterial adhesion should be developed in the future.

Keyword

Atomic force microscope; Bacterial adhesion; Cosmetic contact lens; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Surface roughness

MeSH Terms

Bacteria
Bacterial Adhesion*
Biofilms
Contact Lenses*
Hydrogel
Keratitis
Microscopy, Atomic Force
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Hydrogel

Figure

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  Figure 1. Shape and tinted pattern of four hydrogel contact lenses (CL) used in the study.

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  Figure 2. Atomic force micrographs of surface of different contact lenses (CLs) on the concave side. The surface topography of four different CLs was obtained through atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis over a 2500 μm2 surface area on the concave side. Especially measuring cosmetic CLs, color tinted area was contained. (A) Conventional CL - daily wear. (B) Cosmetic CL - daily wear. (C) Conventional CL - extended wear. (D) Cosmetic CL - extended wear.

• 

  Figure 3. Bacterial culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhering to contact lenses after immersing the contact lenses (CLs) into bacterial solutions for 1 hour, 12 hours, or 24 hours, using right angle streaking method. (The bacterial solution for P. aeruginosa adhesion to CLs during 24 hours was diluted to 1:4, compared to others for 1 and 12 hours.)

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  Figure 4. Correlation of surface roughness and initial (1 hour) number of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhering to contact lenses (CLs) (r: Pearson correlation coefficient −1 ≤ r ≤1 by the Pearson correlation test).

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  Figure 5. Scanning electron microscopic photographs of cosmetic contact lens surface and its Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesions. Cosmetic contact lenses (CLs) were immersed into P. aeruginosa for 24 hours. After the CLs were washed and processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, the microscopic photographs of concave side of CLs were taken from SEM. (A) Color tinted area of cosmetic CL was rougher than non-color tinted(× 1000). (B) Black lined square of Fig. A was observed at higher magnification (×1000). (C) P. aeruginosa (white arrow head) was adhered to irregular surface of cosmetic CL. Especially, more bacterial adhesions were found to color tinted area (×2000). (D) P. aeruginosa adhesion to surface of CL was observed at high magnification (×10000). (N: non-color tinted area, C: color tinted area, white arrow head: P aeruginosa adhesions).

Reference

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