Robert Harrington – It really is common sense that when you cover the eyes with a synthetic plastic lens, a whole new environment could be created both on and in the eye. The preceding headline indicates just how much the naturally occurring bacterial flora (also known as the eye microbiome) in the eye changes.

With the introduction of contact lenses on top of the eye, the interaction between the plastic material and the eye conjunctiva sets up a much more conducive environment for eye infections to occur.

“Researchers used genetic testing to find out exactly what was present, and said the discovery could explain why contact lens wearers are far more susceptible to eye infections.” [1]

While the predictable results of this study are quite self-evident, millions of lens-wearers are seemingly indifferent to the eye infections which inevitably develop. The eyes are full of extremely delicate structures and fragile tissues which should be protected. And yet many people are quite casual about putting something in them which will put them at risk.

Why are there over 5000 strains of bacteria that live in the eye in the first place?

There is a whole biological science that is dedicated to the study of body bacteria. It hypothesizes that the human body is actually an amalgam of billions of bacteria working harmoniously to perform myriad tasks without which the human body could not survive for very long. Continue reading →