A woman who wore contact lenses in the shower developed acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare eye infection caused by microscopic amoebas found in water sources such as lakes, wells, and shower water. Grace Jamison shared her story on social media after losing her sight to the condition.
The Infection
"How I got it was I showered with my contacts in," Jamison said. She explained that the amoebas embedded themselves in her cornea, leading to blindness and excruciating pain. She now warns others: "Please clean out your solution and change it every time you use your contacts. Don't sleep in them, don't swim in them, don't shower in them."
In a TikTok video from June 2026, she wrote: "Let this be your reminder to not take your sight for granted. I was never told you cannot wear contact lenses in the shower. Because of this, I am now blind and living with excruciating pain every day. Please learn from my mistake so this will never happen to you! Just because it hasn’t happened to you yet, does not mean it won’t. Take care and God bless you all."
Symptoms and Causes
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare eye infection caused by bacteria in the cornea, according to Specsavers. "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," they explain. Common causes include improper storage, wearing contacts at night, ill-fitting lenses, using tap water to clean lenses, swimming or showering with contacts, and a history of scratched eyes.
Symptoms include pain, redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, a gritty sensation, and excessive watering. "If you notice any of these symptoms, you should stop wearing your contact lenses and get in touch with your GP/optometrist right away," Specsavers warns. They advise saving the lenses for examination.
Prevention
Research cited by Specsavers indicates around 60% of affected wearers report irregular disinfection routines, and about 30% have gone swimming with their lenses. Prevention tips: avoid tap water contamination, do not swim or shower with contacts, use only sterile solution, change storage case monthly, and consider daily disposable lenses.
