Teenager has eye eaten by parasite after sleeping with contact lenses

A young man found out the consequences of forgetting to remove contact lenses before bedtime the hard way.

After a long day of part-time work as a nanny, the young man Mike Krumholz , aged 21, decided to take a 40-minute nap to rest. When she woke up, she realized that she had lost her sight. Later, the American discovered that the cause of blindness was a rare carnivorous parasite.

In an interview with the British newspaper Daily StarMike reported that he has been using lenses for seven years and confessed that he often contracted infections due to misuse.

the case

In the report, Mike stated that after waking up, he realized that there was something wrong with his eyes and immediately removed the lenses. “I told my parents: I have to go to the ophthalmologist, something is not right”, reports the young man in the case that happened on December 19.

After consulting with his physician, the healthcare professional referred him to an ophthalmologist. The eye specialist diagnosed him with herpes, but Mike did not understand how he had acquired the virus.

After going through more ophthalmologists, the young man was finally diagnosed with keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) due to Acanthamoeba keratitisa rare parasite that fed on the eye flesh of the North American.

To the newspaper, Mike said that the condition prevents him from working and dedicating himself to college. The young man also said that the parasite causes immense pain in his eyes.

I couldn’t explain a pain like that in my life. It’s like a constant shock, it’s a constant pain. I’ve been screaming in pain.

Mike Krumholz, 21 year old student

@mikekrumholz13

How my eyes looking post surgery I go for my post surgery appointment tomorrow afternoon and need to hear good news🙏 🚨REMINDER do NOT sleep swim or shower in your contacts PLEASE! 🚨 Tags #eyes #contactlenses #acanthamoebakeratitis #fyp #surgery #miami #florida #trending #comedy

♬ Green Hill Zone – Blvkarot

Treatment

After the correct diagnosis, Mike underwent photodynamic therapy. Treatment consists of a conjunctival flap surgery.

Surgeons took the “white” of his eye and placed it over the pupil to give him a chance to fight the parasite. Even so, the young man claims that he no longer sees with his right eye.

Mike currently posts videos on TikTok about his condition and warning people about the consequences of sleeping in contact lenses.

Contact lens care

In an interview with CNN Brazil the ophthalmologist Marindia Graciolli warned that the incorrect use of contact lenses can cause injuries to the cornea – that transparent lens in front of our eye.

The ophthalmologist also explains the consequences of sleeping with contact lenses. The doctor states that “the eye needs a breather as the cornea is avascular.”

Marindia says that “blood vessels serve to transport oxygen. Since the cornea has no blood vessel, it breathes through air. That’s whyWhen we sleep with a contact lens on, our eye is prevented from breathing because of the lens.”

Another reason to remove your lenses before bed is hygiene. The ophthalmologist says that during the night, the lens needs to be soaked in the multipurpose solution used for cleaning.

“Our eye produces several components, such as water and fat. ANDThese substances stick to the contact lens. When we do not have this practice of cleaning, the lens becomes obstructed, making it prone to contamination, in addition to reducing corneal oxygenation”, explains Marindia.

Finally, the professional warned that we should be careful when contacting lenses with contaminated water, such as rivers and even tap water. Marindia warns that there is a risk of contracting the same parasite that consumed Mike’s eye in dirty water.

“In polluted waters, there may be a protozoan called Acanthamoeba, which, when in contact with the contact lens, ends up causing very serious ulcers in the eye region”.