It sounds like a classic urban myth - the sort of thing that would be divvy up wildly until counteract by Snopes . However , Chinese undergrad Lian Kao really hasbeen blindedas a result of not changing her impinging lenses .
The outer space between contact lens and the oculus is well suitable to allow micro-organism that do n’t like oxygen to breed , and worse still , feed on the cornea . Acanthamoeba represent the main terror , and in Kao ’s case six month of not removing her lenses afford it ample time to become established .
pith for Disease Control . Acanthamoeba magnified
Acanthamoeba does not feed directly on human tissue . Instead it exhaust bacteria which hold out there . Bacterial infections became established on Kao ’s cornea , so the amoeba had mint to eat and get a settlement started . Then it burrowed into Kao ’s eyes to get at the bacteria living further in .
Acanthamoebic keratitis , as the condition is called , can occur from not disinfect contact lense . Lens cleanser havebeen recalledafter potentially expose wearer to Acanthamoeba infections through nonstarter to disinfect properly .
While electron lens that have n’t been clean pose a risk , not taking them out at all is a far peachy danger . Kao reportedly did n’t off her lenses for six month , not only sleeping in them but swimming as well . Since swimming pools often contain Acanthamoeba this greatly heighten her risk .
Dr Wu Jian - Liang , music director of opthalmology at Wan Fang Hospital said , “ A shortage of oxygen can destroy the surface of the epithelial tissue , creating tiny wounds into which the bacterium can easily infect , spreading to the rest of the eye and ply a perfect breeding ground . ”
Corneal transplants can sometimes repair the legal injury , butsuccess is mixedbecause it can be very hard to get free of the infection once it study hold .
Acanthamoebic keratitis stimulate pain , eye redness and obnubilate vision . amazingly , the bother often does not become intense enough to cause people to seek avail until the damage is already done .
