A routine summer swim turned into a medical nightmare for a 23-year-old Texas woman, highlighting the hidden dangers of wearing contact lenses in water.
Rare parasitic infection claims vision
Brooklyn McCasland never imagined that a casual swim during her August vacation in Alabama would lead to losing vision in her right eye. The culprit: a microscopic parasite called acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), which invaded her eye through her contact lens.
“I was in the most pain I’ve ever experienced and eventually went fully blind in my right eye,” McCasland revealed, describing her harrowing experience on a GoFundMe page established to assist with mounting medical expenses.
Diagnostic challenge leads to critical delays
The path to proper diagnosis proved challenging, as AK’s symptoms mirror common eye infections. “This infection mimics other common infections so at the time I was put on steroids and a handful of other drops,” McCasland explained. These initial misdiagnosis led to precious time lost in fighting the infection.
Race against time with rare treatment
Upon confirmation of AK, McCasland faced another hurdle: accessing appropriate medication. “Because this infection is so rare, the drops that are used for treatment are only made in the UK,” she noted. Fortunately, a Dallas medical facility had samples available, allowing immediate treatment initiation.
McCasland’s recovery demands extraordinary vigilance, requiring eye drops every 30 minutes. Recent medical evaluations suggest a challenging road ahead, with doctors indicating that a cornea transplant might be necessary once the infection clears.
According to Cleveland Clinic data, while AK infections affect approximately 1,500 Americans annually, an alarming 90% of cases involve contact lens wearers. Risk factors include extended lens wear, improper storage, and water exposure while wearing contacts.
Public health warning
McCasland’s story serves as a stark warning to the estimated 45 million contact lens wearers in the United States. “If I had known that from not swimming in my contacts I could’ve avoided all of this pain, I would have never done it,” she cautioned, hoping her experience will prevent others from facing similar consequences.
The young woman’s ongoing battle highlights the critical importance of proper contact lens care and the potentially devastating consequences of what many might consider a harmless activity.