Mother-of-four is left blind in one eye after a vision-robbing amoeba latched onto her cornea

A mother-of-four was left blind in one eye when a parasite latched onto her cornea after she swam in her local pool while wearing contact lenses.

Stacey Peoples, 49, from Denver, Colorado, was unable to see out of her left eye for months after she became infected with the rare acanthamoeba keratitis.

She was rushed to hospital during Independence Day weekend 2014 when the agony became so intense she was unable to get out of bed.

With her eye clouded over ‘like a zombie’s’, Mrs Peoples’ begged doctors just to remove the eye and end her suffering but the medics fought hard to save it.

Mrs Peoples’ was forced to use ‘pool cleaner’ eye drops to kill the infection every couple of hours for several months.

In agony and unable to see out of her left eye at all, Mrs Peoples’ even questioned whether she wanted to be alive.

However, in April 2015, the school administrator underwent a cornea transplant, which has restored her vision to 20/20 with glasses.  

Stacey Peoples was unable to see out of her left eye for months after she became infected with the rare acanthamoeba keratitis. She is pictured after the procedure back at work as a school administrator after being forced to take a seven-month break during her recovery

Stacey Peoples was left blind in one eye when a parasite latched onto her cornea after she swam in her local pool while wearing contact lenses. Pictured during her recovery, she was rushed to hospital over July 4 weekend 2014 when the pain was too intense for her to move

Stacey Peoples was left blind in one eye when a parasite latched onto her cornea after she swam in her local pool while wearing contact lenses. Pictured during her recovery, she was rushed to hospital over July 4 weekend 2014 when the pain was too intense for her to move

She likened the pain to 'someone snapping a rubber band against my eyeball every four or five seconds'. 'The back of my eye felt like it was going to blow out the back of my brain,' she added

She likened the pain to ‘someone snapping a rubber band against my eyeball every four or five seconds’. ‘The back of my eye felt like it was going to blow out the back of my brain,’ she added

Speaking of the Independence Day weekend, Mrs Peoples said: ‘When we got to the cabin for fourth of July weekend I just went straight to bed.

‘The pain was so intense. It felt like someone was snapping a rubber band against my eyeball every four or five seconds.

‘The back of my eye felt like it was going to blow out the back of my brain.’

Mrs Peoples also developed a severe migraine, as well as a constantly watering eyes and nose.   

‘I didn’t know it was possible to produce this much fluid,’ she said. ‘My eye looked like a zombie’s.

‘It was completely cloudy and the whites of my eye was bright red and so gross.’

Mrs Peoples’ pain became so intense she had to be rushed to hospital in Traverse City, Michigan, where medics were initially baffled as to what was wrong.   

‘They booked me an appointment with a cornea specialist and after she looked in my eye she went to consult medical books. It was very worrying,’ she said.

‘She told me she believed I had an amoeba, and while I was relieved they finally had some idea of what was going on, I didn’t know what I was in for.

‘She said, “We have to try and save the eye and worry about vision later”.

 After being discharged from hospital, Mrs Peoples' (pictured before her transplant) had to insert 'pool cleaner' drops into her eyes every two hours for five months to kill the infection. In agony, she said all she did was 'move from my bed to my rocking chair and back again'

 After being discharged from hospital, Mrs Peoples’ (pictured before her transplant) had to insert ‘pool cleaner’ drops into her eyes every two hours for five months to kill the infection. In agony, she said all she did was ‘move from my bed to my rocking chair and back again’

Before being taken to hospital, she claimed her eye clouded over 'like a zombie's'. She also battled an intense migraine, as well as a constantly running eye and nose

Before being taken to hospital, she claimed her eye clouded over ‘like a zombie’s’. She also battled an intense migraine, as well as a constantly running eye and nose

WHY SHOULDN’T YOU SWIM WHILE WEARING CONTACT LENSES?

Swimming while wearing contact lenses puts a person at risk of blindness.  

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), an amoeba found in water around the world, can infect the cornea – the ‘clear window’ at the front of the eye.

The burrowing amoeba can penetrate through the eyeball, causing total vision loss within just a matter of weeks.

An analysis of all incidents recorded in the past 18 years showed that 86 per cent of patients had swam with their lenses in, according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Contact lenses can create small abrasions in the eye, which make it easier for the amoeba to attach when the eye comes into contact with water. 

As well as the risk of swimming, the scientists also highlighted the risk of rinsing lenses with tap water.

Acanthamoeba, which feed on bacteria, can be present in all forms of water, including lakes, oceans, rivers, swimming pools, hot tubs and even showers.

It can also be found in tap water and soil. 

Although AK are generally harmless to humans, cornea infections can be extremely painful.

Treatment usually involves antiseptic drops that kill the amoeba, which may need to be taken every hour for the first few days, even while sleeping.

Source: Moorfields Eye Hospital  

The pain was so extreme, Mrs Peoples even asked the doctors to remove her eye, however, the medics insisted they try and save it.  

‘I had lost my vision completely by this point. All I could see was white,’ she said.

To kill the infection, Mrs Peoples had to apply eye drops every two hours for five months, with her agony meaning she was unable to stray far from her bed.

While fighting the illness, she was also forced to take a seven-month leave from her job. 

‘I was prescribed eye drops, which essentially contain pool cleaner to kill the parasite. I had to put these into my eyes every two hours for months,’ Mrs Peoples said.

‘I was using the drops every two hours until December, and for those months I moved from my bed to my rocking chair and back again. I couldn’t do anything else.

‘I had two or three very dark days where I thought this pain is too much, it would be better if I wasn’t here.’

 Although Ms Peoples' managed to raise a smile at times during her recovery, she admits she also had dark days, where she questioned whether it would be better if she was not alive

 Although Ms Peoples’ managed to raise a smile at times during her recovery, she admits she also had dark days, where she questioned whether it would be better if she was not alive

Pictured before being treated, Mrs Peoples' lost all vision out of her left eye until all she could see was 'white'. Doctors fought hard to save her eye but at the expense of her sight

Pictured before being treated, Mrs Peoples’ lost all vision out of her left eye until all she could see was ‘white’. Doctors fought hard to save her eye but at the expense of her sight

However, by April the next year Mrs Peoples’ luck had changed when she underwent a cornea transplant at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette.

And just one day later, she was able to see again.

Speaking of the procedure, Mrs Peoples said: ‘They removed my damaged cornea and replaced it.

‘When the patch came off two days after the surgery, it was amazing. I went into hospital unable to see and then came out and could see so clearly.

‘It’s been wonderful. I have a little bit of trouble with depth perception but with glasses I have 20/20 vision.

‘I’m a huge advocate of organ donation now because this wouldn’t be able to see if not for my generous donor.’

But in April 2015 Mrs Peoples' luck changed when she underwent a cornea transplant. Pictured after the procedure, she described the results as 'amazing' when she could see just the next day. She now has 20/20 vision with glasses and has become an advocate for organ donation

But in April 2015 Mrs Peoples’ luck changed when she underwent a cornea transplant. Pictured after the procedure, she described the results as ‘amazing’ when she could see just the next day. She now has 20/20 vision with glasses and has become an advocate for organ donation

Pictured after the transplant, Mrs Peoples' claims she can now see 'so clearly' 

Pictured after the transplant, Mrs Peoples’ claims she can now see ‘so clearly’ 

Following her ordeal, Mrs Peoples is warning others to avoid wearing contacts in water.

‘The reason I am sharing my story is to warn people not to wear their contacts in water or even in the shower,’ she said.

‘This is rare but it can happen. Even if you’ve been doing it for 20 years like me.

‘Doctors tell you not to do it. My doctors think I picked this up in the pool while wearing my contacts.

‘I’m just lucky I have such a wonderful family. Otherwise I would never have gotten through this.’

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 85 per cent of acanthamoeba keratitis cases occur in contact-lens users.

Contact lenses can create small abrasions in the eye, which make it easier for the amoeba to attach when the eye comes into contact with water.

Pictured is the cabin in Traverse City, Michigan, where Mrs Peoples' condition got increasingly worse over July 4 weekend in 2014. She was unable to join in the celebrations due to her agony

Pictured is the cabin in Traverse City, Michigan, where Mrs Peoples’ condition got increasingly worse over July 4 weekend in 2014. She was unable to join in the celebrations due to her agony

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