Woman's Eye Infection Due to Brain-Eating Amoeba From Contact Lenses

In Nebraska, a young boy recently died because of a brain-eating amoeba, and now Tiffany Zeleny said that she has the same type of bacteria inside her eye.

Zelany is receiving several medicine deliveries for the eye infection. "Acanthamoeba keratitis is a horrible infection," she mentioned.

Tiffani wears her contact lenses while the internal tubing is on the lake in early summer, and now she is being tormented by the amoeba in her eye.a

The microscopic amoeba, Acanthamoeba keratitis, is a bacteria that are common in nature and can be found in oceans, lakes, air and soil. A high number of infected individuals are those who wear contacts but anyone can be affected by the infection.

According to the statement of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the infection is common due to the improper handling and storing of the lenses; using tap water in lens disinfection; taking a bath while contacts are on, and a history of trauma to the cornea

Tiffany, who is also from the state of Nebraska, has been wearing contact lenses since her third grade. On the CDC website, they have an informational page about the disease related with the bacteria, saying how rare the viral infection can be serious in one's eye that can lead into permanent visual impairment.

But according to a report from KKTV, eight-five percent (85%) of the uncommon acanthamoeba infection are related to wearing the eye aid.

Prevention before the Viral Complication

Tiffany mentioned that she didn't let her head soak under water, but she might have been splashed, which hit her eyes.

She added that she might have been contaminated by the bacteria when she tore down an aged fence without safety visors.

American Academy of Ophthalmology spokesman, and MetroHealth Medical Center Doctor, Thomas Steinemann, said that the amoeba can be seen in all forms of water. He also enunciated that the virus is not fatal but devastating to the eyes and can cause severe pain.

He also told Newsweek that he had patients express the trouble they had and the traumatizing pain they felt, wanting just to take their eye out. Steinemann also uttered that the diagnosis of the infection might be challenging.

He also takes accountability for the people who wore contact lenses in a body of water. Once the bacteria is treated, a possible corneal transplant may line up.

Zeleny's Recovery

Despite her present condition, she is very optimistic that a miracle will happen and that her eye can be restored. She was given a prescription of medicines that she administers herself, aside from the 70 eye drops that she needs to use every day.

Midwest Eye Care corneal surgeon told KKTV that he only saw five to six cases that were as severe as Zeleny, and encouraged contact lens wearers to not swim and sleep with the eye aid on.

A funding program was launched to help Tiffany with her medications and recovery. She was directed to the University of Iowa for her treatment program.

In the GoFundMe post, she stated that the doctors are highly doubtful about saving her infected eye. She cannot work because of the inflammation and high sensitivity to light, which leads to temporary visual impairment.

Check out more news and information on Eyes in Science Times.