Forgot to Remove Bedtime Lenses at Risk of Getting Terrible Infection

Forgot to Remove Bedtime Lenses at Risk of Getting Terrible Infection - Maybe some of us take it lightly about forgetting to remove contact lenses before going to bed. But a viral photo on Facebook showed a man had a terrible infection in the eye, which was caused by his falling asleep with contact lenses still attached.

The photo was uploaded by Dr. Patrick Vollmer, an ophthalmologist at Vita Eye Clinic in Shelby, North Carolina. Dr. Volmer explained that the 34-year-old patient had an infection with the bacterium Pseudomonas which turned into a horrible ulcer, medically called Pseudomonas ketitisis related to contact lenses.

This infection causes inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye and is a medical emergency, can cause permanent blindness if not treated immediately with antibiotics. Even though it has been treated, patients will also experience a slight loss of vision.

"It only takes a few seconds to remove your contact lens but has the potential to cause permanent damage for life if you underestimate it. People need to look at these photos and remind themselves, family, or friends to be more careful about misuse of contact lenses," Dr. Vollmer wrote, quoted from NBC News.

Pseudomonas bacteria are everywhere, usually in soil, plants, animals and water. This bacterium enjoys a moist and warm environment and tends to infect people whose immune systems are declining. But for those who are healthy, they can also be infected in certain circumstances.

The man was called asleep after swimming, then his eyes let out bright yellow pus. Contact lenses are directly in the eye and cause bacteria and viruses to be easily trapped. So when they don't take it off, bacteria can rot.

Pseudomonas infection is quite rare and is not an infection commonly handled by an ophthalmologist. It is advisable not to swim or fall asleep by wearing contact lenses, and replace the lens and storage area according to instructions to reduce the risk.