Parasites Alert in Dirty Contact Lenses

Good contact lens care not only important for convenience, but especially for eye health. Dirty contact lenses can be a gathering place for bacteria.  


Another danger rarely watch is bacteria in contact lens can be "food" parasite Acanthamoeba. In fatal cases, the parasite can cause blindness.  

Acanthamoeba parasite can be found in the dust, sea water, tap water, and swimming pools. When trapped in contact lens that is being used, parasites that would undermine contact lenses even  can penetrate into the eyeball and cause blindness.

Indeed Acanthamoeba parasite infection is very small, but if until infected, the treatment lasts longer and is less effective and thorough, alias often causing blindness.

Symptoms of parasitic infection include itching, watery eyes, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, eyelid swelling, and pain. If the symptoms are ignored, blurring of vision may become permanent within a week.  

"In most cases, parasitic infection that causes scarring in the cornea. The cornea is the window of life and if there is an infection in the three layers of the cornea there will be a scar, it's like a cold glass window, "Graeme Stevenson said, an optician in the UK.

He said, in a year could be recorded 75 infections due to poor hygiene of contact lenses. Most contact lens users are lazy to clean according to the rules ophthalmologist.

Many patients rinse their contact lenses with tap water. " Using contact lenses while swimming or bathing can also cause tiny microorganisms in," he said.  

Parasite treatments include eye drops every 20 minutes for several days. Some patients even have to be hospitalized and need a corneal transplant.

For that always look hygiene, including hand hygiene when cleaning contact lenses. Use the special liquid because it contains a disinfectant to keep the lenses remain sterile.

Some bacteria can also penetrate into contact lens, So after cleaning with cleaning solution in the palm of the hand, soak contact lenses in solution at least 4 hours. This method will kill most of the bacteria is left behind.


Source; dailymail.co.uk