What can I do to reduce my risk of developing Acanthamoeba keratitis?
These guidelines should be followed by all contact lens users to help reduce the risk of eye infections, including Acanthamoeba keratitis: • Visit your eye care provider for regular eye examinations. • Wear and replace contact lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your eye care provider. • Remove contact lenses before any activity involving contact with water, including showering, using a hot tub, or swimming. Extended-wear contact lens users should discuss concerns with their eye care provider. • Wash hands with soap and water and dry before handling contact lenses. • Clean contact lenses according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions from your eye care provider. • Use fresh cleaning or disinfecting solution each time lenses are cleaned and stored. Never reuse or top off old solution. • Never use saline solution and rewetting drops to disinfect lenses. Neither solution is an effective or approved disinfectant. • Store reusable lenses in the proper storage case. •
