{"id":15099,"date":"2021-07-04T10:29:05","date_gmt":"2021-07-04T10:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=15099"},"modified":"2021-07-15T08:50:01","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T08:50:01","slug":"what-is-acanthamoeba","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-emergencies\/what-is-acanthamoeba\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Acanthamoeba?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Acanthamoeba can <\/b><b>enter the body through an open wound and cause massive brain swelling<\/b> <b>resulting in death in about 95% of those infected.<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Acanthamoeba is a microscopic, free-living ameba, or amoeba, that can cause rare, but severe infections of the skin, central nervous system and eyes. The ameba is found in water and soil environments, worldwide. It can be spread to the eyes through cuts, contact lenses, or by being inhaled into the lungs.<\/p>\n<p>The most common eye condition disease caused by Acanthamoeba is Acanthamoeba <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/corneal-diseases\/corneal-ulcers-keratitis\/\">keratitis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>Acanthamoeba keratitis is an infection of the eye that can result in permanent vision loss, including blindness.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><b>What can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/corneal-diseases\/corneal-ulcers-keratitis\/\">Acanthamoeba keratitis<\/a> has been found in almost all water sources, from pools to showers. This serious condition can occur due:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Using tap water to clean or store contact lenses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Swimming with contact lenses, especially in bodies of freshwater<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What are Acanthamoeba keratitis symptoms?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Commonly known symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">A red, frequently painful eye infection that doesn&#8217;t improve with regular treatment<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Blurred vision, excessive tearing, light sensitivity and a feeling of something in the eye<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Irritated, red eyes that last for an unusually long time after removing your contact lenses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you experience any of the symptoms above, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><b>immediately contact an eye doctor near you<\/b>.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-emergencies\/when-is-blurred-vision-a-medical-emergency\/\">When is Blurred Vision a Medical Emergency?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>How is Acanthamoeba keratitis treated?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Your eye doctor will recommend the following treatment options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Topical anti-infective agents applied to the infected area<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Removal of damaged tissues<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">A biopsy, if the condition worsens<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Lower your risk of acanthamoeba keratitis<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>The following can help reduce your risks of catching this sight-threatening eye condition:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Always wash hands thoroughly before handling contact lenses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Never use tap water to store or rinse contact lenses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Don\u2019t swim or shower with contact lenses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Do not sleep in contact lenses unless prescribed by your doctor.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Do not sleep in contact lenses after swimming<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Never put contact lenses in your mouth or use saliva to wet the contact lens<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Never swap lenses with someone else<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Replace lenses as your doctor prescribed<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Before storing, rub and rinse the surface of the contact lens<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Use sterile products that are only recommended by your eye doctor to disinfect and clean your lenses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/\">Guide to Eye Exams<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you experience eye redness, secretions, visual blurring or pain, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><b>contact an eye doctor near you<\/b><\/a> immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Acanthamoeba can enter the body through an open wound and cause massive brain swelling resulting in death in about 95% of those infected. Acanthamoeba is<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":15100,"parent":305,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15099","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is Acanthamoeba? - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-emergencies\/what-is-acanthamoeba\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is Acanthamoeba? - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Acanthamoeba can enter the body through an open wound and cause massive brain swelling resulting in death in about 95% of those infected. 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