“Contact Lens Fungus Ate Away My Eye”

The above unfortunate lady has lost her left eye from a very serious fungal infection caused by Fusarium.

The cornea which is the front part of the eye is affected and this can cause blindness.

Symptoms include blurred vision, discharge, swelling, tears, pain and senitivity to light.

The maths teaching assistant had undergone 22 operations with no sucess in saving her eye so surgeons were forced to remove her eye. She has been wearing popular daily disposable contact lenses that she bought from an internet website. We have to emphasise the fact that many people buy contact lenses on line without having regular eye examinations.

The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) has urged for wearers of contact lenses to look after their lenses properly. Letting eye health and contact lens care deteriorate can lead to eye conditions and problems, resulting in future health risks.

Following manufacturer’s guidelines and taking the proper care of your lenses is crucial. Regular eye examinations are important to ensure that eye health is kept at optimal levels and that developing conditions will get caught early.

HOW TO AVOID IT

• Never use tab water during lens care (to rinse lenses or the storage case)
• Always wash and dry your hands properly before handling the lens
• Never use contact lenses for swimming, in hot tubs or whilst showering or participating in water sports unless wearing tight – fitting googles over the top
• If the lenses are removed and stored whilst swimming, contact lenses should be cleaned and disinfected in fresh solution before putting them back on the eyes.