Infections blindness and hair loss through contact lenses

The story of Claire Wilkinson from Brisbane in Australia sounds like a nightmare that has come true. A parasite in her contact lens led to hellish pain, blindness and hair loss in the 38-year-old, and her feet swelled to double. For the past 10 years, the woman has been fighting the consequences of the infection and now hopes for help with a new kind of technology.

Pain shortly after insertion of the lenses
Claire Wilkinson has been going through an extremely torturous time for many years. The horror began, according to a 2007 Daily Mail report, as she continued to put her contact lenses in her eyes as usual. Because after 30 minutes suddenly came to severe pain - the beginning of a long history of suffering.

An Australian woman experienced agony after inserting her contact lenses. (Image: Africa Studio / fotolia.com)

Patient does not trust the diagnosis
The now 38-year-old noticed that especially light caused the pain and therefore could go only with sunglasses to the outside. When visiting a general practitioner she was diagnosed with conjunctivitis - inflammation of the outermost layer of the eye, which in technical language is called conjunctivitis. But the patient had doubts right from the start: "I knew it was not. I knew that conjunctivitis did not cause such pain, "Wilkinson told the Daily Mail..

Acanthamoeba infection can have nasty consequences
She visited an eye specialist and was reassured that it was not a "simple" inflammation. Because the doctor noted the rare infectious disease Acanthamoeba keratitis - an eye disease that can have dire consequences such as blindness or loss of the eye.

The triggers are the so-called Akanthamöben, which occur in the earth, in water and in air conditioners. For example, the infection may occur when soft contact lenses come into contact with contaminated tap water or the lenses are inserted after swimming without first washing hands with soap.

Paralyzes and swollen feet
The parasite caused Claire Wilkinson to go blind, she got paralysis and hair loss in addition to the massive pain, and her feet swelled to twice the size. "I was in such pain that I wanted to die. It felt like broken glass cutting through the eye, "says the patient. "I could tell when the parasites were awake and when they were sleeping. They had offspring in my eye. It was disgusting, "Wilkinson continues.

Stroke due to brain surgery
Various treatment approaches in recent years failed. Prescribed eye drops caused excruciating ulcers in her left eye, a brain operation triggered a stroke and a complete cornea transplant proved unsuccessful.

Now, Wilkinson hopes to be treated with a new technology at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital, which specializes in eye disease, and wants to emigrate to the UK. "I know of an operation in London they would not do in Australia, but I hope it will cure me of the pain," said the 38-year-old. (No)