Brooklyn McCasland, a 23-year-old woman from the U.S., lost vision in her right eye after contracting a rare parasitic infection, acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), following a swim with her contact lenses on. The incident occurred in August while she was visiting Alabama with friends. Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare amoeba that infects the cornea, can lead to severe pain and potentially permanent vision loss if left untreated.
Initially, McCasland was treated for a common eye infection and given steroid drops, which delayed an accurate diagnosis. “I was in the most pain I’ve ever experienced and eventually went fully blind in my right eye,” she shared on her GoFundMe page, which was set up to help with her medical expenses.
After multiple visits to eye specialists, McCasland was diagnosed with AK. She was advised to begin treatment immediately to avoid the possibility of permanent blindness or even losing her eye. Treatment for AK is challenging as the medicated eye drops required are produced exclusively in the UK. Fortunately, her Dallas doctor had sample drops on hand, allowing her to start treatment promptly.
McCasland has to administer eye drops every 30 minutes due to the infection’s slow healing process. She expressed regret over swimming with her contact lenses, stating, “If I would have known that from not swimming in my contacts I could've avoided all of this pain, I would have never done it.”
According to Cleveland Clinic, around 1,500 cases of AK occur annually in the U.S., with 90% affecting contact lens wearers. The infection risk increases with improper contact lens care, such as extended wear, inadequate cleaning, and wearing lenses while swimming or showering.
McCasland’s journey may still involve a cornea transplant to restore her vision fully, though she hopes her experience will raise awareness and prevent others from similar risks.
