Pseudomonas aeruginosa Corneal Ulcer Associated With an Aerosol Can of Preservative-Free Saline

To the Editor. —Suppurative keratitis is the most serious complication of soft contact lens wear. Microbial contamination of the lens care system is known to be an important predisposing factor. Preservative-free disinfection systems are now available for contact lens wearers who suffer reactions to preservative, although they are also recommended for many other lens wearers. Aerosol cans are suggested to be the safest and most convenient method of providing the necessary preservative-free saline. Microbial contamination of saline made with tablets ("homemade saline") has already been shown to be associated with corneal infections due to Pseudomonas and Acanthamoeba species. 1,2 Report of a Case. —A 23-year-old man presented with a three-day history of discomfort in the right eye. He had worn cosmetic soft contact lenses on a dailywear basis for three years, and five months before presentation he had obtained a new pair of lenses with a high (70%) water content.