Eye-Eating Parasite Causes Blindness in Contact Lens Wearers

If James Bond was visually impaired, any glasses wearer would naturally assume that his most treasured piece of equipment would have to be his contact lenses. They are brilliant, after all. Say goodbye to boxy frames on our faces and the need for windscreen wipers in the rain—contact lenses are sleek and subtle and they are here to save the day! Or so we thought... Recently, stories have emerged which warn against a rare eye infection called 'Acanthamoeba Keratitis', most often associated with contact lens wearers. With millions of people wearing contact lenses every day, it is important that we take a closer look at the risks involved before we tear off our glasses with reckless abandon and yell 'good riddance!'

What is Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK)?

AK is a rare type of cornea infection caused by a parasite that burrows into the eye. The organism, or Acanthamoeba, is most often found in bodies of water, both domestic and natural (swimming pools, tap/shower water, oceans, rivers, etc...). Acanthamoeba can also be found in soil and in the air. Usually, these organisms are harmless- we come into contact with them every day. However, contact lens wearers are more likely to contract an infection from the Acanthamoeba as the water parasite becomes trapped behind the contact lens. There is nowhere for the Acanthamoeba to go and so it begins to burrow into the eye, thus damaging the cornea, causing severe pain and, if left untreated, permanent blindness.

Who is affected and what happens?

Irenie Ekkeshis and Jessica Greaney are examples of two women who were diagnosed with AK. Irenie describes being in 'terrible pain' and not being able to see out of her right eye. Unfortunately, it seems that Irenie's case was diagnosed too late and, after two unsuccessful corneal transplants, she went blind in her right eye. Jessica Greaney's eye infection was discovered more quickly however, and with an intensive course of eye drops, her treatment seems to have been gruelling but more successful. Jessica describes how she had to apply eye drops every half an hour over a four day period in an attempt to avoid permanent blindness.

Acanthamoeba Keratitis is difficult to diagnose in its earlier stages as the initial symptoms (eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light, feeling like there is something in the eye) can be very similar to other types of eye infection. However, with AK, the patient's condition seems to deteriorate rapidly, with slight eye discomfort suddenly becoming unbearably painful within the space of a single day. Another victim of AK, Cristina Margolis, describes how the infection was undetectable at first. Initially, Margolis thought nothing of her eye irritation, putting it down to little more than a stray eyelash. A few days later, however, Margolis developed an excruciating sensitivity to the light and she was rushed to the emergency room.

It is thought that Acanthamoeba Keratitis most often effects those who wear their contact lenses when swimming, or in the shower. However, AK is not exclusive to contact lens wearers and can also be contracted by other people too, although this seems to be considerably less common.

What can be done to prevent it?

1. Avoid wearing your contact lenses if you think you might come into contact with water. This means no contact lenses in the shower, hot tub, swimming pool, etc... If you want to go swimming, get goggles that protect the eyes from the water.

2. Always wash and dry your hands before putting in and taking out your contact lenses.

3. Wear disposable/daily contact lenses.

4. Be mindful of the symptoms, and if you suspect that you might have AK, seek help immediately! The faster it is diagnosed, the more likely you are to save your sight.