- Dr Samuel who loves disturbing medical stories told the shocking tale of 54 year-old British woman Marie Mason
A doctor‘s revealed why he doesn’t wear contact lenses by sharing a horrifying story about a woman who didn’t take hers out before hopping in the shower.
Dr Samuel, a GP from Singapore, who loves disturbing medical stories told the shocking tale of 54 year-old British woman Marie Mason.
Marie had a habit of showering with her contact lenses in – then one day she noticed she was losing her sight.
She went to an eye specialist who immediately told her she had a contact lens related infection.
‘Unfortunately for her this was not your typical bacterial infection,’ Dr Sam said.
The infection was cause by a parasite which is often found in tap water.
The little creature fell into her eye and crawled underneath her contact lens.
Doctors did everything they could to help Marie, including giving her three corneal transplants over five years.
But eventually they had to remove her eye.
‘The infection doesn’t respond to usual treatments like antibiotic eye drops,’ Dr Sam explained.
He shared a picture of Marie following her eye removal.
‘Some people will say stop scaring us contact lenses only affect one in 5000 people,’ he said.
‘Acanthamoeba is even rarer but can cause loss of vision.’
He went on to explain most people will continue to wear contact lenses despite the risk so explained how to minimise chances of an infection.
‘Don’t swim, sleep or shower with them on,’ he said.
He said daily contact lenses come with a lower risk – but should never be reused.
‘Always wash hands before using contact lenses and only use approved solutions.’
He added showering with contact lenses ‘increases risk’ by seven times.
The video was made as part of the doctor’s ‘new fear unlocked’ series.
And people were suitably startled.
‘That was needed.. I am planning to use contact lenses…but i will think about it again,’ one woman said.
