Lara Brandao Teroni, a young woman, shared on TikTok how she ended up going blind in one eye due to an infection linked to the misuse of contact lenses. According to the girl, she was infected with a protozoan called Acanthamoeba, which eats the cornea.
In the first post, which has been viewed over 8 million times, she says she is nearsighted and has swapped her glasses for contacts on medical advice. “Things my contacts have done for me: Cleared up my weird skin because I no longer need glasses: 10/10; Made me blind in one eye: -1000/10. I thought it was a bit unnecessary,” she wrote.
In another report, which achieved more than a million views, Lara said that she started using lenses last year. “I bought the lenses from an optometrist. What happened was my fault. He had a habit of scratching his eyes, which led to a corneal tear. He also wore the lenses while bathing, which led to an infection with Acanthamoeba, which is a protozoan that lives in water. He said, “I did not “I want to scare someone or discourage the use of lenses.”
The protozoa feed on the cornea, causing pain and sensitivity to light. Acanthamoeba, also called AK, is common in soil and water, including taps, swimming pools, and bathtubs. “If you want to wear contact lenses, listen to what your doctor tells you and follow exactly what they say. If you think you won’t be able to do it, and you’re not a healthy person, don’t wear contact lenses,” Lara warned.
According to researchers at University College London, using reusable lenses can increase the risk of contamination by amoeba by up to 3.8 times compared to daily disposable lenses. The study also shows that certain behaviors increase the risk, including sleeping with contacts or showering, which Lara said she did.
The Brazilian woman's case is not unique: scientists say that nine out of every ten cases are caused by bad habits. The disease can be prevented by changing from reusable lenses to disposable ones.
Furthermore, it is important to clean your hands before picking up the lenses, as well as leave them in specific sterilizing solutions before and after use. The fluid in the cases should be changed every day and the case once a month.
