Acanthamoeba is one of the most prevalent organisms in our environment and rarely causes infections. However, when it does, it can become extremely serious and vision threatening. It is disturbing to note there have been a number of recent reports of increasing incidence of Acanthamoeba keratitis, and co-infection with a bacterial keratitis is common in both the contact lens case and on the cornea, complicating prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
It is important to educate yourself about the symptoms and risks of Acanthamoeba keratitis to protect against this potentially vision-threatening infection. Prevention is always better than cure, and good contact lens hygiene is a must. See contact lens care guide for more information.
Symptoms of Acanthamoeba Infection
A red, and frequently painful, eye infection is one of the symptoms – especially if treatment does not improve the condition.
There may also be a feeling of grit or a foreign body in the eye. Tearing, blurred vision and sensitivity to light are other symptoms.
Irritation and redness may last for abnormally long periods of time after removing contact lenses.
What are the Risks?
You will put your eyes at risk of being infected by using tap water to clean and disinfect contact lenses and the lens case.
Swimming with contact lenses in your eyes, particularly in fresh water lakes and rivers, will put you at risk.
Failure to comply with lens care instructions increases the susceptibility to infection.
Treatment
Medical therapy for Acanthamoeba infection is not well established but early diagnosis and aggressive surgical and medical attention have been shown to be necessary for successful treatment. It is therefore vital that you see an eye care practitioner in the early stages of the condition, even if it turns out to be something other than a serious eye infection.
Topical antimicrobial agents are generally used as a form of treatment.
There is no clear consensus on the use of steroids but most authorities recommend that it is probably best avoided.
In some cases that do not respond to medical therapy, surgical treatment may be necessary and an ophthalmologist can advise you accordingly.
