A 20-year-old woman from South America, identified as Grace Jamieson, has lost vision in both eyes after wearing contact lenses while showering, highlighting the serious risks of improper lens hygiene.
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Grace shared her experience on social media, explaining that the incident occurred during a holiday trip when she accidentally took a shower without removing her contact lenses. Although many users unknowingly repeat this habit, experts warn that it can lead to severe eye infections.
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Shortly after the exposure, she developed symptoms of a rare but dangerous infection known as Acanthamoeba keratitis. Medical experts explain that this condition is caused by microscopic free-living amoebas that thrive in contaminated water and can enter the eye when contact lenses are exposed to it.
In Grace’s case, the infection progressed rapidly. Within days, she began experiencing severe discomfort and vision problems. She sought medical help, but an initial misdiagnosis led to steroid eye drops being prescribed, which reportedly worsened the infection instead of treating it.
Within a week, her condition deteriorated significantly, resulting in complete vision loss. It took nearly two months before she received a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Despite ongoing medical care, Grace has permanently lost vision in her right eye. Doctors are continuing treatment, and future surgical options are being considered in an effort to restore partial sight.
She has since shared her story publicly to raise awareness about the dangers of poor contact lens hygiene. Grace strongly advised users not to wear contact lenses while showering, swimming, or exposing them to any form of water.
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Medical professionals also reinforce her warning, emphasizing that contact lenses should always be kept dry and handled with strict hygiene to prevent potentially irreversible eye damage.