British Tourist, 38, Contracts Rare Eye Parasite in Bali After Swimming in Contact Lenses
Updated
Updated · The Nightly · Aug 24
British Tourist, 38, Contracts Rare Eye Parasite in Bali After Swimming in Contact Lenses
3 articles · Updated · The Nightly · Aug 24
Summary
Matt Flack, a 38-year-old photographer from Essex, was diagnosed after a two-month Bali holiday left him with worsening redness, watering, light sensitivity and a gritty feeling in his left eye.
Doctors identified acanthamoeba keratitis after antiseptic drops and a corneal scraping failed to stop the pain; the parasite can enter through tiny corneal scratches, often linked to contact lenses exposed to contaminated water.
Flack said he had spent much of the trip swimming, surfing and exercising, and believes wearing daily lenses in pools may have triggered the infection despite more than 20 years of lens use.
He now faces intensive medicated eye-drop treatment and fears permanent sight loss, possible corneal transplants and, in the worst case, losing the eye.
Flack is urging other contact-lens wearers to remove lenses before swimming, saying daily disposables do not eliminate the risk.