Woman Nearly Loses Eye Due to Contact Lens

The ordeal of 47-year-old Briton Emma Marsden has become a serious warning for contact lens wearers. Due to a seemingly minor mistake, a dangerous parasite entered her eye and began eroding her cornea. The situation became so severe that doctors had to sew her eyelid shut in hopes of saving her vision.

The incident began in February when Emma fell while cleaning a stable, landing face-first in a cart filled with mud and water. She washed her hands and face but only removed her contact lenses in the evening. Doctors later stated that this specific delay caused the infection.

Four days later, her right eye began to burn and ache intensely. Initially, doctors diagnosed a corneal ulcer and prescribed eye drops. However, the pain worsened daily, and Emma eventually lost all sight in her right eye.

Subsequent examinations revealed Acanthamoeba keratitis This is Acanthamoeba a dangerous infection caused by a microscopic parasite that destroys corneal and nerve tissues.

“The pain is indescribable. I have given birth to three children, but this agony was worse than labor,” says Emma.

Doctors had to sew her eyelid shut after the parasite perforated her cornea. The woman will now need a corneal transplant in the future, but the operation has been delayed for several years due to the infection.

Experts emphasize that Acanthamoeba can be found in tap water, lakes, rivers, swimming pools, soil, and dust. Therefore, it is crucial to keep contact lenses away from water and strictly follow hygiene rules.

Currently, Emma undergoes weekly medical check-ups and uses special eye drops every two hours. She says the problem was not the contact lens itself, but the improper way it was handled.