Teen Nearly Blinded by Acanthamoeba Infection, Parasite Latched onto her Contact Lense

Eighteen year old Ashley Hyde was nearly blinded after discovering that a parasite had latched onto one of her contact lenses. Reports indicate that she started having throbbing and redness in her eye yet doctors were uncertain what was wrong with her.

"They did multiple cultures where they scrape your eye," Ashley, from South Florida, according to Local10.com. "One time, they had to drill into my eye. It was really nasty."

Eventually, doctors discovered the sickening source of Ashley's pain.  A rare parasite had grown on her contact lens and was trying to eat its way through her cornea, Local10.com reported.  Had they not discovered it in time, Ashley could have lost the use of her eyesight, according to Fox News.

The teen had what is referred to as a acanthamoeba infection.  A tiny parasite, commonly found in fresh water and soil, acanthamoeba are capable of spreading through contact lens infections, cuts or being inhaled into the lungs.

Acanthamoeba infections are just one possible side effect of improper cleaning of contact lenses.  Many ophthalmologists recommend using daily disposable contact lenses, to better avoid contracting infection and disease.

All we've got to say is this-make sure to keep your eyewear clean.