Epidemiology of ulcerative keratitis in Northern California.

Objective: To determine the incidence and associated risk factors for ulcerative keratitis in northern California.

Methods: In this large-population, retrospective, cohort study, all medical records with diagnosis coding for corneal ulcers during a consecutive 12-month period were reviewed. Incidence rates were calculated using a dynamic population model. Multivariate relative risk regression was conducted to evaluate potential risk factors for ulcerative keratitis.

Results: Within the target population of 1 093 210 patients, 302 developed ulcerative keratitis. The incidence of ulcerative keratitis was 27.6 per 100 000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 24.6-30.9). The incidence of corneal ulceration in contact lens wearers was 130.4 per 100 000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 111.3-151.7), with an adjusted relative risk of 9.31 (7.42-11.7; P < .001) compared with non-contact lens wearers, who had an incidence of ulcerative keratitis of 14.0 per 100 000 person-years (11.7-16.6). Seven of 2944 people known to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus developed ulcerative keratitis, with 5 being contact lens wearers. The incidence of ulcerative keratitis in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients was 238.1 per 100 000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 95.7-490.5), with an odds ratio of 9.31 (7.42-11.7; P < .001) compared with human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients, who had an incidence of ulcerative keratitis of 27.1 per 100 000 person-years (24.1-30.3).

Conclusions: The incidence of ulcerative keratitis in this population is higher than previously reported. This may be owing to the increasing prevalence of contact lens wear.