Susannah Jowitt, a wearer of reusable contact lenses for 40 years, nearly lost her sight after a lapse in hygiene led to a severe double corneal infection. The incident occurred when Jowitt, after traveling and living out of a suitcase, inserted her lenses without cleaning them or washing her hands, a routine she admitted to often neglecting.
The first signs of trouble appeared later that day with itchy eyes, which she initially attributed to pollen. By the time she cycled home, her vision was blurry and surrounded by a glowing halo. Removing the lenses offered no relief; the blurriness persisted. In an attempt to alleviate the discomfort, she rinsed her eyes with saline solution, a decision that proved detrimental. Instead of providing relief, it felt like burning her eyeballs, and her vision rapidly deteriorated.
Within hours, Jowitt was functionally blind, seeing only in shades of light and dark. A friend found her in this state and immediately took her to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. There, an ophthalmologist diagnosed a double corneal infection, noting that the ulcers on her corneas were extensive.
"You have a double corneal infection," the ophthalmologist stated, explaining that the eyedrops she had used had likely fed the infection, accelerating its progression. "If your friend hadn’t brought you in this evening, by morning, the ulcers would have covered the eye too extensively and you might well have lost your sight."
Jowitt later learned that aggressive bacteria can break down corneal tissue within a single day. The doctor identified unsterile water or unviable contact lens solution as probable culprits, questioning Jowitt about showering or swimming with her lenses in. Jowitt admitted to doing so for nearly 40 years, as she is too nearsighted to swim without them.
"None of our water is sterile – microbes can get trapped between your lens and the surface of your eye and then work their way in and cause these ulcers on the cornea," the doctor explained.
Jowitt was prescribed antibiotic eye drops, to be administered hourly, day and night, for the first 48 hours, followed by hourly use during the day for two weeks. Miraculously, her vision began to improve within minutes of the first application. While her eyes were initially red and sensitive to light, her vision returned to normal within a couple of days.
She was advised not to wear her contact lenses for six weeks and to undergo further tests. Following these, an optometrist confirmed that her corneas showed no scarring, allowing her to resume wearing reusable lenses, but with stricter guidelines: a maximum of 14 hours a day, six days a week. She was also instructed to change the solution daily and to rinse and rub each lens in the solution for at least 30 seconds before use.
Jowitt now adheres to a rigorous hygiene routine, including washing her hands before touching her eyes, using fresh solution daily, and boiling and air-drying her lens case fortnightly. While daily disposable lenses could offer a simpler alternative, their higher cost makes them unfeasible for her, prompting a commitment to increased vigilance and respect for her eye health.