Health3 min(s) read
Published 11:43 21 Apr 2026 GMT
A woman has issued a warning after going blind while doing basic, everyday tasks with her contact lenses in.
TikToker Grace Jamison was diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a severe eye infection that can result in permanent vision loss or blindness, after contracting a microscopic amoeba while living in the Dominican Republic.
In her viral video, the 19-year-old explained how the infection, which can be found in sources like well water, lakes, shower water, dust, and dirt, is most commonly contracted by "people who wear contact lenses and don’t take care of their contacts".
Jamison believes she contracted the infection after showering with her contact lenses in.
She described the condition as extremely difficult to treat, with recovery expected to take at least six months, followed by additional treatments for the scarring and damage to her eyes.
"Right now, my eyes are looking better than they did before. That's just because I'm on steroid drops," she said. "You have to switch between steroids or going off steroids to help kill the amoebas better."
"So right now, it's looking a lot less red, less irritated, and there's a lot less visible cloudiness in my eyes, which is kind of nice," she added.
The teen shared the difficult symptoms she’s been dealing with, which include severe eye pain, headaches, light sensitivity, and blurry vision. “It’s very hard to live with,” she admitted.
Jamison aims to raise awareness about the importance of proper contact lens care, especially warning against showering or sleeping in contact lenses.
"It is the small and simple things that we are asked to do that are so important to take care of your eyes," she said. "A lot of people, me included, take vision for granted, and how important and amazing it is that we can see."
Her warning resonated with many people in the comment section. One viewer said: "I never take my contacts out. EVER. I’ve had the same pair in for ab 3 months probably. I will be taking them out from here on out."
Another commented, "As a contact wearer, I literally have never heard of this before, and I’m shocked that nobody ever informed me. Thank you so much for sharing this."
A third added: "This has de influenced me from getting contacts I will stick to my glasses. Why is this not more known!!!”
Jamison’s experience echoes that of 58-year-old Nicola Greenfield from Suffolk, who contracted Acanthamoeba keratitis after swimming while wearing her contact lenses.
Greenfield, who had been dealing with blurred vision and extreme sensitivity to light, feared that she might lose sight in her right eye due to the infection.
After several examinations and surgery to remove the top layer of her cornea, she urged others to be vigilant.
"Behind the lens is a lovely, warm environment for a germ to breed, so people need to be really, really careful,” Greenfield said, per BBC News. "If I had known then, I wouldn't have worn my lenses while swimming."
Both women's cases show the importance of proper contact lens care and the risks of ignoring simple guidelines.
For contact lens wearers, the message is simple: always wash your hands before handling lenses, clean your solution regularly, and avoid sleeping or showering in them to prevent potentially sight-threatening infections.
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