Dangers of Contact Lenses: Amoeba Eye Infection Blinds Woman

A student in Taiwan who left contact lenses in her eyes for six months straight developed a rare and serious eye infection that ultimately took her vision, according to a news report. While this particular case has not been verified by Live Science, eye infections from microscopic amoebas can occur. The condition is known as Acanthamoeba keratitis, and is most common among people who wear contact lenses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Mark Fromer, an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said that leaving contact lenses in too long increases the risk of eye infections because the contact lens prevents the cornea — the transparent outer covering of the eye — from getting enough oxygen. Read More http://ift.tt/VUFJOx