Are inflammatory events a marker for an increased risk of microbial keratitis?

PURPOSE. To consider whether inflammatory events, such as contact lens-induced peripheral ulcers, contact lens-induced acute red eye, and infiltrative keratitis are a marker for an increased risk for the occurrence of microbial keratitis. METHODS. A review of relevant studies was undertaken with the view to answering two questions: 1) Do inflammatory events associated with contact lens wear progress to infection or microbial keratitis; and 2) Do episodes of inflammatory events predispose a patient to having an event of microbial keratitis? RESULTS. The large body of laboratory work, along with the epidemiologic data on incidence rates and clinical data with regard to differences between the nature of inflammatory events and infection, supports the supposition that inflammatory events are not a marker for increased risk of microbial keratitis. CONCLUSIONS. Inflammatory events are not a marker for increased risk of microbial keratitis, nor will they progress to infection because they are separate disease entities.