A 19-year-old is facing the frightening prospect of losing her vision due to a rare parasite that infected her eye when she showered wearing contact lenses.
Grace Jamison, who shared her ordeal on social media, received a diagnosis of acanthamoeba keratitis in August. This condition is caused by tiny amoebas that lodge themselves in the cornea and are commonly found in water sources like lakes, wells, shower water, as well as dust and dirt.
Although anyone can contract this infection, contact lens wearers are especially vulnerable if proper hygiene practices are not adhered to.
In a TikTok video that garnered over six million views, Grace revealed, “I was in the Dominican Republic and showered with my contacts in. The water was not clean and contained acanthamoeba.” She cautioned that the infection can also be acquired through swimming or wearing lenses while sleeping.
Describing the treatment as intensive and painful, Grace mentioned that she now needs to apply medicated eye drops every thirty minutes to an hour, some containing pool disinfectant and other chemicals to eliminate the parasite.
The treatment is expected to span six months to a year, with additional interventions necessary to address the scarring and damage caused by the parasite.
“The symptoms of acanthamoeba are severe,” Grace emphasized. “There is intense eye pain, headaches, vision cloudiness, and it can lead to blindness. Living with it is extremely challenging.”
Despite the difficulties, Grace is utilizing her experience to promote awareness about contact lens safety. She urged others to take simple precautions, emphasizing the importance of washing hands before handling contacts, regularly changing solution, avoiding sleeping, swimming, or showering with lenses.
By sharing her story, Grace aims to underscore how easily vision can be compromised and to remind people of the value and significance of sight.