What is Acanthamoeba keratitis and how is it contracted?

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but serious eye infection caused by Acanthamoeba, an amoeba found in water and soil, often contracted by contact lens wearers through contaminated water or improper lens hygiene.

What are the symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis?

Symptoms include intense eye pain, redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and a sensation of a foreign object in the eye, which can be mistaken for other infections.

How can I prevent Acanthamoeba keratitis as a contact lens wearer?

Prevent it by never using tap water with lenses, changing lens solution daily, washing hands before handling lenses, and avoiding lens wear during sleep or water activities.

Home / Health / Sight Lost to Microscopic Invader: A Contact Lens Nightmare

Sight Lost to Microscopic Invader: A Contact Lens Nightmare

10 Jan

•

Summary

A rare amoeba can permanently destroy vision, often misdiagnosed.
Contact lens wearers are most at risk for this severe infection.
Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial for outcomes.

Sight Lost to Microscopic Invader: A Contact Lens Nightmare

A potentially blinding eye infection, Acanthamoeba keratitis, is silently affecting contact lens wearers, causing permanent vision loss and excruciating pain. This rare disease, caused by a microscopic amoeba commonly found in water and soil, adheres to the cornea and burrows into the eye when there are breaks in the protective cell layer. The opportunistic parasite thrives in conditions favorable to contact lens wear, making wearers highly susceptible.

Diagnosing Acanthamoeba keratitis is challenging due to its rarity and symptoms mimicking other common eye conditions like pink eye or herpes keratitis. This often leads to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatments, allowing the amoeba to further damage the cornea. Patients like Teresa Sanchez and Grace Jamison experienced significant vision loss and prolonged suffering before receiving accurate diagnoses and appropriate, though often painful, treatments.