Until recently, I never questioned keeping my contacts in while I showered. If I were washing my face thoroughly, I would usually wait and put them in afterwards so I did not knock one out while scrubbing. But on countless other days, I left them in without a second thought — right up until I read a story that made me shiver.
The story that changed my habit
The piece described a teenager who said she began to lose her sight after a parasite got into her eye. The detail that stuck with me was how it happened: she had been showering while wearing contact lenses.
The teenager, Grace Jamison, shared her experience online after being diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis. The illness is caused by a tiny organism known as an amoeba.
In her posts, she warned that acanthamoeba is not limited to rivers and lakes — it can also be present in everyday environments, including shower water, dust and soil. It was this story that made me reconsider my seemingly harmless habit.
Grace's advice and warning
Grace urged contact lens wearers to take care of them properly and never to swim, sleep or shower with them in. In one Instagram post, she said: "A few years ago, I developed a rare eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis from wearing my contacts in the shower. It completely changed my life and ultimately left me blind in one eye. I never imagined something like this could happen to me, and I share my story because I don’t want anyone else to experience it."
She listed simple habits to lower the risk of serious eye infections: wash and dry hands before touching contacts; never rinse or store lenses in tap water; do not swim, shower or use a hot tub while wearing contacts; clean lenses exactly as directed for reusable contacts and replace the case every few months; replace contacts on schedule and never sleep in them unless approved for overnight wear. She added: "If sharing my story helps even one person protect their eyesight, it’s worth it."
Expert guidance on acanthamoeba keratitis
Contact lenses are usually safe if worn and looked after correctly. But Specsavers says research suggests many cases of acanthamoeba keratitis are linked to poor habits — with around 60% of people who develop it admitting they do not disinfect their lenses regularly, and about 30% saying they have swum while wearing them.
Experts advise not to swim or shower with contacts and to change the storage case every month. Daily disposable contact lenses can minimise the risk of acanthamoeba infection. Only sterile contact lens solution should be used to disinfect and store lenses, and tap water contamination should be avoided.
Specsavers explains: "Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare eye infection caused by bacteria in the cornea. It is commonly associated with contact lens wearers." They add: "Contact lens wear can cause scrapes on the corneal surface, oxygen deprivation, and contamination due to poor hygiene. Not following contact lens care guidelines can increase the risk of acanthamoeba keratitis and other eye infections."
Symptoms to watch for
Symptoms of acanthamoeba keratitis are similar to those of other eye infections and include blurred vision, light sensitivity, a gritty sensation in the eye, excessive watering, redness and pain.
