Pseudomonas Infection: The Danger of Wearing Contact Lenses While Sleeping

This type of bacterial infections can result in permanent blindness.

An ophthalmologist shared powerful photos to warn customers of the danger of leaving their contact lenses while they sleep.

Dr. Patrick Vollmer, of the Vita Eye Clinic in Shelby, North Carolina, has decided to share on Facebook this week images of the eye of a woman "eaten" by a bacteria by the horny after frequently leaving her eyes behind her. glbades during the night.

In a message that has been seen by more than 30 million people, the woman's eyes are glbady as she contracts a thick pus of infection.

Dr. Vollmer explained that the patient was suffering from a "pseudomonas ulcer in culture" which is "the direct result of sleep with contact lenses".

"Pseudomonas (bacteria) are an important cause of ocular morbidity and their opportunistic characteristics lead quickly to permanent blindness.This is the fourth case of cultivated pseudomonas that I have treated in my clinic," he said.

"The bacteria ate the patients in the cornea aggressively in a few days, leaving behind a thick white necrosis (dead tissue)," he explained.

While Dr. Vollmer says that he has started administering antibiotics and steroids to the patient to reduce permanent scarring, he acknowledges that it is "very likely" that she will experience vision loss. permed.

"To be very clear, I never recommend sleeping with a brand of soft contact lenses.The risks outweigh the benefits every time.It takes a few seconds to remove your contact lenses, thus avoiding irreversible damage." he declared.

"People have to see these images and remember, to their family and friends, that they should also be aware of the incorrect use of contact lenses," he added.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 45 million Americans wear contact lenses.

Two-thirds are women and the average age of the user is 31 years old.

However, pseudomonas are not the only problem that can arise from using lenses.

Keratitis, or inflammation of the cornea, results in one million medical visits at a cost of $ 175 million for the US health care system.

Serious infections affect approximately 1,500 contact lens users a year.

Source: Infobae