## Influencer Warns of ‘Brain-Eating’ Ameba That Nearly Blinded Her After Contact Lens Use
Rachel Procknow, a social media influencer, is sounding the alarm about Acanthamoeba keratitis, a potentially blinding eye infection caused by a microscopic amoeba. Procknow herself suffered from this serious condition after wearing contact lenses while showering, an action that most contact lens wearers might consider innocuous.
In a candid and detailed post on Instagram, Procknow chronicles her year-long battle with the infection, which led to a corneal transplant. She details her experience, emphasizing the importance of strict contact lens hygiene practices, a lesson she learned the hard way.
“On July 3, 2023, I was diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection caused by the Acanthamoeba microbe. The cause? Showering with my contacts in,” Procknow writes. “I’ve worn contact lenses since I was 12 years old and have never been told by any of my eye doctors not to shower, swim, or bathe with them in. Of course, I always washed my hands before handling my contacts, and I never slept in them. I changed my contacts every month, my case every two months, and I didn’t wear them for extended periods of time. I thought I was doing everything right as a contact lens wearer. I was wrong.”
Procknow stresses that while Acanthamoeba can infect anyone, regardless of contact lens use, the risk is significantly higher for contact lens wearers. She highlights the opportunistic nature of the infection: “This infection usually occurs when someone is wearing contact lenses in water. The amoeba gets lodged in a tiny scratch on the surface of your eye caused by the contact lens. Since amoebas are opportunistic, they adapt and thrive in this foreign environment, your eye.”
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies Acanthamoeba keratitis as rare, with an estimated 1 to 33 cases per million contact lens wearers in developed countries, Procknow’s experience underscores the potential severity of the condition.
Procknow’s ordeal began with a seemingly minor eye irritation after a gym workout. Assuming it was a contact lens issue, she replaced them at home. But the discomfort escalated rapidly, leading to intense pain and light sensitivity. After a series of misdiagnoses, Procknow was eventually diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis.
“This amoeba is known as a brain-eating amoeba. It can threaten your vision and can even lead to blindness,” she explains. As she hadn’t swam or bathed in the nine months prior to her infection, Procknow emphasizes that her only possible exposure was showering with her contact lenses in.
The following months were a blur of medical appointments, extensive treatments, and immense pain. “I don’t remember much from the 11 months after I was diagnosed. Thankfully, my son was born early, so I was able to get the medication I needed. I received chemotherapy drugs, had blood work every two weeks to prevent kidney failure, and had to put chlorhexidine/PHMB drops in my eye every hour for three months.” Procknow also reveals that her parents moved in to assist with newborn care and eye drops, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the experience.
Procknow’s powerful story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to proper contact lens hygiene guidelines. Even for experienced wearers, seemingly minor habits can have serious consequences. Her story underscores the need for increased awareness and proactive measures to protect eye health.
As Procknow urges her followers to share her story with others, she reminds us that every eye is precious and deserves the utmost care.
