Lifeguard Blinded by Parasitic Infection Warns Contact Lens Users About Hidden Dangers in Water. Pic/KNM)
(EPICSTORIAN) — A lifeguard lost her vision and had to leave her job after a severe eye infection, triggered by wearing contact lenses in water, led to irreversible damage.
Maureen Cronin, 53, had spent years teaching children how to swim in private pools, often demonstrating techniques underwater.
Cronin Narrates How She Felt After Wearing Contact Lenses
One routine lesson in June 2024 turned into a nightmare when an unseen parasite entered her eye, causing intense pain and ultimately robbing her of her sight.
Early Symptoms and Misdiagnosis
Cronin described the initial discomfort as feeling like a grain of sand lodged in her eye, according to DailyMail. Hoping for quick relief, she sought medical attention, where she was diagnosed with a minor corneal scratch and prescribed eye drops.
The pain, however, intensified over the following weeks, prompting multiple visits to specialists. Each consultation led to different diagnoses, with more medications prescribed but no improvement in her condition.
A month after the symptoms first appeared, an ophthalmologist delivered a devastating diagnosis—acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a rare but aggressive infection caused by microscopic organisms commonly found in water. By the time the infection was identified, the damage to her cornea was extensive.
Understanding Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Acanthamoeba, a single-celled organism, thrives in freshwater, saltwater, soil, and man-made water systems such as pools and hot tubs.
Contact lens users face higher risks when water gets trapped between the lens and the cornea, creating an ideal environment for the parasite to invade through tiny abrasions.
The infection typically starts on the outermost layer of the cornea and progresses deeper, leading to severe pain, vision loss, and in advanced cases, blindness.
Treatment is challenging, often requiring months of aggressive therapy, and in many instances, corneal transplants become the only option for restoring vision.
A Fight for Sight
Cronin was admitted to Stony Brook University Hospital in New York on August 7, where she remained for 48 days receiving intensive care.
On September 23, surgeons performed a cornea transplant, removing the damaged tissue and replacing it with a donor cornea. The procedure, however, was unsuccessful.
Her body rejected the transplant, leaving her almost completely blind in her right eye.
“I’m blind in this eye now. It’s isolating,” Cronin shared. “Meeting new people gives me anxiety. I worry about what they think when they see my eye. I now have a fear of water. I even shower with goggles on.”
Surgeons discovered high levels of parasitic activity in her cornea during the procedure, requiring immediate intervention. Doctors now plan a second cornea transplant in an effort to restore some vision, though the outcome remains uncertain.
Raising Awareness About Contact Lens Safety
Cronin, who has worn contact lenses for nearly 20 years, stated that she was never warned about the dangers of using them while swimming. Now, she is speaking out to prevent others from experiencing similar consequences.
“AK isn’t well known, and it’s often misdiagnosed. Anyone who wears contact lenses should avoid wearing them in any body of water—even in the rain,” she said.
Medical experts emphasize the importance of proper contact lens hygiene and caution against wearing them in water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises users to remove lenses before swimming or showering, store them in sterile solution, and never rinse them with tap water.
A Preventable Tragedy
Specialists highlight that while acanthamoeba keratitis is rare, the consequences can be devastating. Early detection plays a crucial role in treatment success, but misdiagnoses, like Cronin’s case, allow the infection to advance unchecked.
Eye care professionals urge contact lens wearers to be vigilant about lens hygiene, avoid water exposure, and seek immediate medical attention if they experience persistent eye irritation, redness, or blurred vision.
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For Cronin, she’s uncertain what the result would be. As she prepares for another transplant, she hopes her experience serves as a warning. “I’m hopeful but fearful. It feels like it’s never-ending,” she said.
