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Many people wear contact lenses every day without giving much thought to the small habits that come with them. Washing your face or stepping into the shower while wearing lenses may seem harmless, but eye specialists have long warned that exposing contact lenses to tap water can, in rare cases, lead to serious infections.
According to guidance from the NHS and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), contact lenses should always be removed before they come into contact with water, reports LADbible.
That advice has gained renewed attention following a case reported by Kennedy News & Media, in which a British woman suffered a rare eye infection that dramatically changed her life.
From irritation to emergency
Emma Marsden, 47, was cleaning horse stables when she slipped and fell face-first into a wheelbarrow filled with mud. After washing the dirt from her face, she kept her contact lenses in for several more hours before removing them later that evening.
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Several days passed before she noticed intense pain, redness and extreme sensitivity to light in her right eye. Doctors initially believed she was suffering from a corneal ulcer, but further examinations revealed a far more serious condition.
She was diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare infection caused by a microscopic parasite that attacks the cornea. Doctors also identified fusarium keratitis, a fungal infection that was believed to be linked to the mud involved in the accident.
A long road to recovery
According to her medical team, the fungal infection likely originated from the dirt, while the parasite was believed to have entered her eye after tap water came into contact with her contact lenses during her face wash.
The infection progressed so aggressively that surgeons temporarily stitched her eyelids closed to help protect the damaged eye.
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Emma now faces an extended recovery and is expected to require a corneal transplant in the future. She continues to undergo regular hospital treatment while living with significant vision loss in her right eye.
Health experts recommend that contact lens wearers:
- Remove lenses before showering, swimming or washing their face.
- Never clean lenses or lens cases with tap water.
- Follow the recommended cleaning and replacement schedule.
Experts repeat the warning
Although acanthamoeba keratitis is considered rare, eye specialists say the consequences can be severe and, in some cases, permanent. Medical professionals continue to stress that proper contact lens hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent these infections.
Emma's experience serves as a reminder that even routine daily habits can carry unexpected risks when contact lenses are exposed to water.
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