Attention, contact lens wearers!
Anna Randag of the Rotterdam Eye Hospital is conducting doctoral research on Acanthamoeba infection, a rare but serious eye condition that primarily affects contact lens wearers.
Watch out for the Acanthamoeba parasite!
Acanthamoeba is a parasite that lives everywhere—primarily in water, but also in soil, dust, and even in the air. Normally, the parasite does not cause any immediate problems when it comes into contact with the eyes, such as while swimming. However, in people who wear contact lenses, the parasite can enter the cornea through what are likely very small abrasions and cause a corneal infection. Anna notes that nearly all people with an Acanthamoeba infection wear contact lenses. It is essential that people realize that storing contact lenses in tap water is definitely not safe.
