Girl Loses Sight From Old Contact Lenses

This story is so, so gross and scares the crap out of me because I am SO irresponsible with my contacts.  Find out what happened to this woman who left her contacts in for six months straight without washing them. 

After hearing this story, I hereby declare that I will be more responsible with my contacts.  I've already had one corneal ulcer, an open sore on the clear part of your eye that covers the iris, from being irresponsible with my lenses.  Sitting in the St. Luke's ER hearing my vision was 20/200 (that means I could see the big E on the vision chart out of the affected eye and that was it) and that "well you might get your vision back" was the single most terrifying medical experience I ever had.  Luckily, the ER doctor got me some medicated drops and referred me to a great specialist and I can see again.  I have a permanent scar on my eye, but that really only bugs me when I drive at night.

It could've been worse! I could've been like Lian Kao.  She left her contacts in for six months straight.  No changing lenses.  No washing them.  No taking them out when she slept.  The lack of hygiene created the perfect playground for single-cell amoebas to breed and burrow into her eyeballs through the cornea.  They literally ended up eating the surface of her eyes and cost Kao her eyesight.

I'm officially terrified.  The amoebas entered her eyes through openings similar to the one I developed with my ulcer.  As of today, July 16th, 2014...I, Michelle Heart, pledge to actually change my contacts when I'm supposed to and try not to fall asleep with them in anymore!

Keep your lenses clean and fresh, people! Share this story with a contact lens user you know.  It could save their eyesight.