As reported by People magazine , Matt Flack of Colchester, Essex, developed a rare infection after wearing his contact lenses into a swimming pool. Shortly after swimming, the man started having infection-like symptoms and struggled to open his left eye. He initially thought the irritation was due to sand and saltwater from surfing.
A 38-year-old man in the United Kingdom contracted an eye-eating parasite during his trip to Bali, Indonesia, in May.
But according to Kennedy News and Media, he started experiencing severe pain and extreme sensitivity to light and redness.
He also underwent a small procedure of corneal scraping, in which a small sample of tissue is taken from the cornea. However, doctors ultimately diagnosed him with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare but serious condition caused by a microscopic organism often found in water sources such as pools, hot tubs, tap water, and lakes. It’s treatable, but the best way to deal with this condition is to prevent it from happening. Symptoms are similar to an eye infection; hence, proper diagnosis can often be delayed, giving the parasite more time to damage vision.
He bought antiseptic drops from a local pharmacy, then consulted a doctor when he returned to the UK on July 10.
People who wear contacts or are immunocompromised have the highest risk of contracting this condition, according to Cleveland Clinic .
