Man Loses Sight in One Eye After Sleeping in Lenses

According to a report by Mirror, Mike Krumholz, 21, fell asleep with his contact lenses on after a busy day and developed a rare flesh-eating parasite that caused a severe infection, ultimately leading to the loss of vision in one eye.

Although he has been wearing contact lenses for seven years and is familiar with getting eye infections or "pink eye" if he forgot to remove them, this time was different.

Krumholz woke up with an infection in his eye, which he initially believed to be pink eye or allergies. However, after being misdiagnosed with HSV1 in his eye, he was eventually diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare parasite that causes severe pain and vision loss.

Mr. Krumholz created a page on February 7th to describe what happened to him. According to him, the incident occurred last month.

"I woke up and it felt like bad allergies or maybe even pink eye. I was misdiagnosed with HSV1 in my eye but after five different ophthalmologists and 2 cornea specialists visits, I was diagnosed with a very rare parasite in my eye called acanthamoeba keratitis," the 21-year-old said.

"I have had one surgery so far called PDT relocation of conjunctival flap," Mr Krumholz said, adding that it is extremely painful and he has "absolutely no vision" in the one eye. "Not only can I not work, I cannot go outside, I'm just trying to get through this difficult time," the GoFundMe page quoted Mr Krumholz as saying.

He has set up a GoFundMe page to raise awareness about the dangers of sleeping with contact lenses on and to support himself while he fights the debilitating parasite. He has raised almost $1,000 out of his $10,000 goal.

In a message on his GoFundMe page, Krumholz has appealed to other contact lens wearers to avoid sleeping or showering while wearing them, to prevent the development of rare parasites like acanthamoeba keratitis.

Warning Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

● If you wear contact lenses, it is important to be aware of potential risks and take precautions to protect your eyes. Here are some warning tips to keep in mind:

● Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling your contact lenses.

● Do not use tap water to clean your lenses or lens case. Use only sterile saline solution or contact lens solution recommended by your eye doctor.

● Avoid wearing your contacts while swimming, showering, or participating in water sports. Water can introduce harmful microorganisms to your eyes, which can lead to serious infections.

● Do not share your contact lenses with others, as this can lead to the spread of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.

● Never sleep in your contact lenses unless your eye doctor has specifically approved this. Sleeping in your lenses can increase your risk of eye infections and other complications.

● Replace your contact lenses as recommended by your eye doctor, even if they still feel comfortable. Over time, lenses can accumulate deposits and other substances that can damage your eyes.

● If you experience any redness, pain, or vision changes while wearing your contacts, remove them immediately and contact your eye doctor. These symptoms could be a sign of a serious eye infection or other problem.

By following these warning tips, you can help reduce your risk of eye infections and other complications associated with contact lens wear. Remember, your eyes are precious and deserve to be treated with care.