Matt Flack, a 38-year-old photographer from Colchester, Essex, is at risk of losing his left eye after contracting acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a rare eye infection caused by a parasite, during a two-month holiday in Bali. He suspects the infection came from wearing contact lenses while swimming in a pool.
Holiday turns to nightmare
Flack travelled to Bali in May for surfing and gym sessions. On July 1, near the end of his trip, he noticed his left eye becoming red, watery and "gritty." He initially assumed it was sand or salt water from surfing and removed his contact lenses. When he struggled to open his eye, he visited a local pharmacy and was given drops.
After returning home on July 10, he saw an optician who suspected chemical damage but referred him to an eye clinic, where a corneal scrape was performed and more drops were prescribed. Multiple tests confirmed AK, caused by a parasite burrowing into his cornea, along with cysts.
Infection and treatment
Flack admitted to wearing contacts while surfing and swimming but removing them afterwards. He believes he caught the infection in a swimming pool in Bali. Contact lens wearers are at higher risk of AK because lenses can cause abrasions on the eye's surface and trap bacteria and the parasite beneath them.
He now has a "huge fear" of going blind or losing his left eye and must apply eye drops every hour to fight the parasite. He has been put on a three-month course of drops and awaits a stronger dose. He has named the parasite "Alan."
Warning to others
Flack, who has worn daily contact lenses for over 20 years, urges others to "be careful." He said: "Living my best life on holiday just turned into a complete nightmare really. I'm so shocked at the outcome of this." He added: "Three weeks ago I was dancing around on a surfboard in the sea, and now I'm lying in a darkened room putting eye drops in every hour because I might lose an eye."
He said doctors cannot prove or disprove the source of the infection. He now plans to never use contacts again and hopes to raise awareness: "Don't wear contact lenses in or near water. It's important for contact lens wearers to realise just because you wear dailies doesn't mean you're safe."
