Singapore's hospitals receive about 400 cases of eye complications a year caused by wearing contact lenses, and about 25 percent of those are corneal infections according to Channel NewsAsia reports on Wednesday.

The Singapore National Eye Centre said contact lens users are vulnerable to corneal infections, and such infections can potentially lead to blindness.

A research conducted by the centre and other hospitals showed that infections caused by bacteria and fungus make up about 25 percent of an average 400 cases of contact lens complications received in local hospitals.

One of the causes of such infection is related to not proper use and treatment of contact lenses, which could be as high as 80 percent among contact lens users, according to the centre.

A recent survey by Bausch & Lomb involving about 230 people also showed that 25 percent respondents wear their monthly disposable lenses longer than 30 days.

The survey also found that while almost all residents wash their hands before removing their lens, 56 percent use water without soap or antiseptic liquid.

There are about 400,000 contact lens users in Singapore.

Source: Xinhua