A 19-year-old is facing the frightening prospect of losing her vision due to a rare parasite that entered her eye while she was showering with contact lenses. Grace Jamison, who recently recounted her experience on social media, was diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis in August. This condition is caused by tiny amoebas that infiltrate the cornea and are commonly found in water sources like lakes, wells, shower water, as well as dust and dirt.
Although anyone can contract this infection, contact lens wearers are especially vulnerable if they do not adhere to proper hygiene practices. Grace disclosed in a popular TikTok video that she was in the Dominican Republic when she showered with her contacts in, exposing herself to the contaminated water in the region.
The treatment for acanthamoeba keratitis is rigorous and painful. Grace now has to administer medicated eye drops every thirty minutes to an hour, some of which contain pool disinfectant and other chemicals to eliminate the parasite. The recovery process is anticipated to span from six months to a year, with additional treatment needed to address the existing scarring and damage caused by the parasite.
Describing the symptoms as severe, Grace emphasized the intense eye and head pain, potential blindness, and vision cloudiness associated with the infection. Despite the hardships she is enduring, Grace is using her ordeal to raise awareness about contact lens safety, urging others to take simple precautions like washing hands before handling contacts, regularly changing contact solution, avoiding sleeping, swimming, or showering with lenses on.
By sharing her story, Grace hopes to underscore how easily vision can be compromised and emphasize the significance of appreciating the gift of sight.