Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare eye infection that can result in a severe condition of the eyes such as permanent vision loss and even blindness. Acanthamoeba, a tiny ameba (single-celled living organism), causes this infection. When Acanthamoeba infects the cornea, the clear dome that covers the colored part of the eye, it causes Acanthamoeba keratitis.
What are the symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis?
- A sensation in the eye
- Eye pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Excessive tearing
- Eye redness
- Blurred vision
Case Study
Recently, a young man (21-year-old) named Michael Krumholz from Florida reported a severe injury (partially blind) in his eyes after waking up from a 40-minute sleep. The news went viral with the tagline “Flesh-eating bacteria eats a man’s eye during sleep”. He was reported to wear his contact lenses while sleeping. Acanthamoeba keratitis, a bacterial illness that affects the cornea, the transparent outer coating of the eye, and therefore can result in irreversible vision loss, was reportedly found in the man’s eye. The parasite can be found in dirt, dust, and freshwater sources such as rivers and lakes. Krumholz, who is currently awaiting a cornea implant that might partially restore his eyesight, is still in severe distress. His eyes have grown very sensitive to light, preventing him from leaving his residence.
Does wearing contact lenses increase the chances of getting Acanthamoeba keratitis?
The straight answer to this question is, Yes. Wearing contact lenses increases the chances of getting Acanthamoeba keratitis. Acanthamoeba keratitis is most frequent in contact lens wearers, although the infection can affect anybody. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, contact lens wearers account for an estimated 85% of Acanthamoeba keratitis cases in the United States. Many people who wear contact lenses are more likely to get Acanthamoeba keratitis if they have the following habits:
- Wear contact lenses 24×7 in every activity such as swimming, using a hot tub, or shower while wearing lenses.
- Contact lenses are not thoroughly disinfected. This might also involve using tap water to clean the lenses or lens case, or adding fresh solution to previously used solution in the case rather than using a solely fresh solution.
- Contact lenses are not properly stored or handled. This includes not cleaning hands before handling contact lenses, not rubbing and rinsing them after removal, and not keeping them in the approved contact lens solution.
- Have a history of corneal injuries, such as a past eye injury.
Acanthamoeba keratitis can be difficult to treat, and an eye specialist should decide the optimal treatment strategy for each patient. In most cases, AK necessitates intensive medical and surgical therapy. If you suspect that your eye is infected with Acanthamoeba, consult an eye doctor straight away. An eye care professional would generally identify the infection based on symptoms, the development of the Acanthamoeba ameba from a scrape of the eye, and/or visualize the ameba using confocal microscopy. Several prescription drugs are used to treat the infection. Each patient’s optimal treatment choice can be determined by an eye care specialist. However, surgery may be required in cases of severe acanthamoeba keratitis that do not progress with topical treatment. Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) is a surgical treatment that involves the transplantation of a full-thickness cornea.
Conclusion
Since the Acanthamoeba organism must come into close contact with the eyes in order to produce Acanthamoeba keratitis, this kind of corneal illness cannot arise by drinking or breathing water contaminated with this ameba 5-7. The disease is non-communicable which means it cannot be passed from one person to another. The contact lenses act as a medium to carry the organism to the eyes which further infects the eyes. Therefore, the Acanthamoeba may cause Acanthamoeba keratitis in the eyes of an infected person.
