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As a contact lens wearer for almost 20 years, I wasn't aware of this. I regularly swim and shower with lenses in my eyes. I'd really like to understand what ro

As a contact lens wearer for almost 20 years, I wasn't aware of this. I regularly swim and shower with lenses in my eyes. I'd really like to understand what role the lenses play in the infection occurring. Presumably an eye without a lens could also get the infection from a water source?

frei 10y ago
I assume they trap bacteria to the cornea, and reduce the tear-flow that normally reaches the cornea you get with each blink.
- alatkins 10y ago
  That would make sense. In which case the real risk might be from rising the lens and then inserting it. Getting exposed to water when already inserted in the eye (ie. shower or swimming) might be less risky, unless the water somehow penetrates under the lens. Anyway, this is a good PSA.
- SomeStupidPoint 10y ago
  I think that in addition to this, they reduce oxygen in the environment. The level of oxygen in an environment greatly influences what can grow there. (I may be wrong though, but I think I heard it creating a stagnant, oxygen poor enviornment that did it.)
pavement 10y ago
From the sound of things, the contact lens creates an artificial protective cap, providing an environment for single-celled animals, via capillary action, and they acquire a stable environment, and either feed off the cornea, or produce harmful waste, or both, resulting in scars. Even worse, it sounds like after a foothold is established, they become entrenched, and eventually no longer need the supportive bootstrap environment the contact lens initially provided. Based on the multiple relapses described in the article, it sounds as though her original infection never completely went away. So the infection can happen without contact lenses, but normal healthy eyes seem capable of fending off these attackers. Normally, the eye is constantly flushing fluid across its surface, and I suppose the socket and inner eyelids must assist in fighting off invasive organisms, even if simply by friction and moisturization. Somehow, the artificial cap of the contact lens is different, holding the organisms in place, and offering stability and traction.
fastball 10y ago
Do you wear dailies or monthlies? I've worn both, and whenever getting monthlies, my optometrist always told me not to get in the water with them/avoid getting water on them. In regards to dailies, it apparently shouldn't be an issue, as presumably if you get in the water with a daily, you'll probably be taking it out <12h later.
- timthorn 10y ago
  But the sufferer in the article was using daily disposable lenses.
  - lovehashbrowns 10y ago
    It does imply she was using them when she got the infection. However, it doesn't say anything about her usage habits. It's possible to misuse the disposable contacts. For example, by wearing them more than once or keeping them in too long. I wish it had gone further into that. I would very much like to know if it's possible to get this type of infection even if you only use them once a day and do all of the hygienic things you're supposed to do. I shower with my contacts pretty regularly. Showering without them actually kinda sucks. :(
    - reenw 10y ago
      Hello there, I'm the person in the piece, I hope you don't mind if I respond to your comment above- I wore dailies as per instructions, only single use and then I threw them away. I had worn lenses every day in the run up to the infection. I hadn't gone swimming in lenses in the previous months but I had occasionally showered in them. We don't know what caused my AK, but many patients have reported swimming or showering in lenses before getting the infection and there is a strong correlation. Epidemiological studies have proven the link between swimming in lenses and AK. Studies have also isolated the same exact genetic strain of acanthamoeba from patients' bathroom sinks and shower taps as the one found in their eyes. Showering is a risk factor for AK. If you want to know more please do go ahead and ask anything else.
skylark 10y ago
It was stated in the article. Contact lenses can cause minor corneal abrasions which allow the bacterial infection to happen. Presumably this means you should be extremely careful while showering if you scratch your cornea.

frei 10y ago

I assume they trap bacteria to the cornea, and reduce the tear-flow that normally reaches the cornea you get with each blink.

alatkins 10y ago
That would make sense. In which case the real risk might be from rising the lens and then inserting it. Getting exposed to water when already inserted in the eye (ie. shower or swimming) might be less risky, unless the water somehow penetrates under the lens. Anyway, this is a good PSA.
SomeStupidPoint 10y ago
I think that in addition to this, they reduce oxygen in the environment. The level of oxygen in an environment greatly influences what can grow there. (I may be wrong though, but I think I heard it creating a stagnant, oxygen poor enviornment that did it.)

pavement 10y ago

From the sound of things, the contact lens creates an artificial protective cap, providing an environment for single-celled animals, via capillary action, and they acquire a stable environment, and either feed off the cornea, or produce harmful waste, or both, resulting in scars. Even worse, it sounds like after a foothold is established, they become entrenched, and eventually no longer need the supportive bootstrap environment the contact lens initially provided. Based on the multiple relapses described in the article, it sounds as though her original infection never completely went away. So the infection can happen without contact lenses, but normal healthy eyes seem capable of fending off these attackers. Normally, the eye is constantly flushing fluid across its surface, and I suppose the socket and inner eyelids must assist in fighting off invasive organisms, even if simply by friction and moisturization. Somehow, the artificial cap of the contact lens is different, holding the organisms in place, and offering stability and traction.

fastball 10y ago

Do you wear dailies or monthlies? I've worn both, and whenever getting monthlies, my optometrist always told me not to get in the water with them/avoid getting water on them. In regards to dailies, it apparently shouldn't be an issue, as presumably if you get in the water with a daily, you'll probably be taking it out <12h later.

timthorn 10y ago
But the sufferer in the article was using daily disposable lenses.
- lovehashbrowns 10y ago
  It does imply she was using them when she got the infection. However, it doesn't say anything about her usage habits. It's possible to misuse the disposable contacts. For example, by wearing them more than once or keeping them in too long. I wish it had gone further into that. I would very much like to know if it's possible to get this type of infection even if you only use them once a day and do all of the hygienic things you're supposed to do. I shower with my contacts pretty regularly. Showering without them actually kinda sucks. :(
  - reenw 10y ago
    Hello there, I'm the person in the piece, I hope you don't mind if I respond to your comment above- I wore dailies as per instructions, only single use and then I threw them away. I had worn lenses every day in the run up to the infection. I hadn't gone swimming in lenses in the previous months but I had occasionally showered in them. We don't know what caused my AK, but many patients have reported swimming or showering in lenses before getting the infection and there is a strong correlation. Epidemiological studies have proven the link between swimming in lenses and AK. Studies have also isolated the same exact genetic strain of acanthamoeba from patients' bathroom sinks and shower taps as the one found in their eyes. Showering is a risk factor for AK. If you want to know more please do go ahead and ask anything else.

skylark 10y ago

It was stated in the article. Contact lenses can cause minor corneal abrasions which allow the bacterial infection to happen. Presumably this means you should be extremely careful while showering if you scratch your cornea.