Asleep without removing contact lenses or not diligent cleaning, a mistake often made the contact lens users. At least it appears in the data survey of three million contact lens wearers in the UK.
The use of contact lenses without such rules is quite dangerous to the health of the eye. Proven to Katie Richardson, 24, who suffered a variety of chronic disorders caused by not maintaining eye contact lens hygiene while wearing them.
Katie suffered a serious eye diseases such as microbial keratitis, corneal infection, and impaired vision. If not immediately treated, these conditions result in permanent visual damage, even in extreme cases can lead to blindness.
Katie who use contact lenses since 10 years ago was too comfortable using it. The journalist admitted that the business of Norwich often forget to take it off during sleep, can even wear it for a month without taking it off. He also often wash lensak contact with regular tap water when it runs out the required sterilization fluid.
One morning in May, she awoke with pain in his left eye. He thought it was conjunctivitis. However, after giving eye drops, a sharp pain in his left eye the increasingly unbearable.
"My eyes are red and watery. Pain intensified when exposed to light. I should be in a dark room, unable to watch television or read," Katie said as quoted by the Daily Mail.
The pain continued to worsen. Pain he felt was even greater with the itching until he could open his eyes. Arriving at the hospital, doctors diagnosed it had microbial keratitis caused by fungal infections. This is allegedly due to the use of a very dirty lens so that damage the lining of the eye protective enzymes.
Dr. Simon Kilvington, a microbiologist from the University of Leicester, said the bacteria that breed in the eye such as Pseudomonas and Acanthamoeba commonly arise from the natural environment such as water. Bacteria attached to the lens will proliferate in the eye through the cracks of plastic contact lenses.
That is why it is not advisable to wash with plain water contact lenses. "Contact lenses are one of the major causes of corneal infections, mostly from treatment mistakes," Parwez Hossain, a senior professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southampton eye unit, added.
In addition to the cleaning fluid, as well as hand washing hygiene factors. "You must thoroughly wash their hands before putting your contact lenses and take. You must save it properly, and do not wear it too long in duration even expired," said Parwez.
Infections caused by incorrect use of contact lenses requires a long treatment and can be fatal. In addition to pain and red eyes, this kind of infection is usually marked by blurred vision and light sensitivity is bad.
Katie was lucky to get a quick and precise handling. Her eyes returned to normal after a series of intensive treatments, including laser eye surgery with. "The specialist said that my vision deteriorated rapidly and could be far worse if not treated quickly. There is even a risk of blindness. It really shook me," said Katie.