Living with Acanthamoeba keratitis
An eye infection of the cornea caused by a tiny organism, usually linked to soft contact lens wear.
Understanding Acanthamoeba keratitis
It is usually linked to soft contact lens wear, particularly overnight wear. It can affect the cornea and other parts of the eye. GARD lists onset as any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Eye pain
- Extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Changes in the cornea
- Inflammation inside the eye (anterior uveitis)
- Decreased feeling in the cornea
- Hole in the cornea (corneal perforation)
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include eye disease specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Prevent Blindness America
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
It is an infection by acanthamoeba. It is usually associated with soft contact lens wear, particularly overnight wear.
Also known as: acanthamoeba caused keratitis; amoebic keratitis; keratitis, acanthamoeba
Patient organizations
- Prevent Blindness AmericaAcanthamoeba keratitis · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Explore research for Acanthamoeba keratitis
Explore actively recruiting Acanthamoeba keratitis studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Acanthamoeba keratitis with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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