What Are the Treatments for Acanthamoeba Keratitis?

Acanthamoeba keratitis is an eye infection caused by acanthamoeba, an amoeba that is present in the environment. These organisms are most often present in contaminated water sources. Usually acanthamoeba does not cause illness, but in some cases severe infections may occur. Contact lens wearers should be especially aware of the risks of such infections. Symptoms of this condition include eye pain, redness, light sensitivity, blurry vision and itchy and watery eyes. Acanthamoeba keretitis can result in vision loss or total blindness. Early treatment is necessary to preserve eyesight.

Eye Medications

• Prescription eye medications are necessary for the treatment of acanthamoeba keretitis. Commonly, the following topical creams are used: polyhexamethylene biguanide, propamidine isethionate, chlorhexidine digluconate, polymixen B, neomycin and clortimazole. Sometimes medications may need to be combined.

Corneal Transplant

• Acanthamoeba keratitis often does not respond well to treatment. Thus, eye damage may occur despite medical treatment. In these cases, a corneal transplant may be needed to restore vision. During a corneal transplant the eye's damaged tissue is replaced with a graft of new corneal tissue from a tissue donor. The recovery time for a corneal transplant may last up to one year.

Prevention

• Acanthamoeba keratitis is very serious and almost always cause permanent eye damage; thus, prevention is particularly important.

  Contact lens wearers should avoid wearing their contacts in the shower, in swimming pools and in hot tubs. Swimming in contacts may be possible if goggles are worn and the contacts are disposed of after swimming.

  Wash hands before removing or inserting contacts.

  Use a contact lens solution to clean contact lenses regularly. Make sure to rub the surface of the contact lenses with the solution to remove any organisms. Store contacts in disinfecting solutions nightly.

  Contact lenses should never be washed in tap water.

  Wash and sterilize the contact lens storage case weekly and replace it every one to three months.