Salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, can prevent bacteria such as pseudomonas aeruginosa from sticking to contact lenses, according to an article in the October 1 issue of New Scientist magazine. The ingredient may eventually be incorporated into contact lenses to help prevent infections.

Salicylic acid may eventually be incorporated into contact lenses to help block infections, such as this one of pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Salicylic acid inhibits the production of certain molecules on the bacteriums surface that enable it to adhere to a lens. The aspirin ingredient was also found to hinder the production of bacterial toxins and to reduce inflammation in cultured corneal epithelial cells infected with bacteria.