Keratitis and Contact Lens–Related Conditions Underlie Nearly 1 Million Healthcare Visits Annually

The overall burden and epidemiology of keratitis in the U.S. are unknown. Now, CDC investigators have used possible keratitis-related International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) codes (e.g., corneal ulcer, corneal disorder involving contact lens use) and data from several national health services–utilization databases to study the epidemiology of this condition and estimate the incidence and cost of resulting office, outpatient department (OPD), and emergency department (ED) visits.

In 2010, an estimated 700,000 doctors' office and OPD visits and 41,000 ED visits were due to keratitis; an additional 230,000 office and OPD visits and 19,000 ED visits were due to contact lens–related corneal problems. Patients aged <25 years…