A routine mistake in handling reusable contact lenses led to a severe corneal infection and temporary blindness for a woman who had been wearing contacts for 40 years. Susannah Jowitt described her experience as a cautionary tale about the importance of proper hygiene when using contact lenses.
Jowitt recounted an incident where she inserted her fortnightly reusable lenses into her eyes without washing her hands or cleaning the lenses with fresh solution, a departure from her usual routine. Later that day, her eyes became itchy, and her vision grew blurry, with a glowing halo appearing around objects. The situation worsened when she attempted to rinse her eyes with saline solution, which she later learned could have exacerbated the infection.
Within hours, Jowitt was functionally blind, able to distinguish only light from dark. Her friend took her to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, where she was diagnosed with a double corneal infection. An ophthalmologist informed her that the extensive ulcers on her corneas were likely caused by dirty water or unviable contact lens solution, potentially introduced by showering or swimming with her lenses in, a habit she admitted to for years.
The doctor explained that bacteria can rapidly break down corneal tissue, and the eyedrops Jowitt had used may have actually