Is there treatment for infection with Acanthamoeba?
Yes. Eye and skin infections are generally treatable. If you suspect your eye or skin might be infected with Acanthamoeba, see your health care provider. Medical treatment is most effective when the diagnosis is made promptly.
Most cases of brain and spinal cord infection with Acanthamoeba (Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis) are fatal.
How can I prevent infection?
These guidelines should be followed by all contact lens users to help reduce the risk of eye infections, including Acanthamoeba keratitis:
- Visit your eye care provider for regular eye examinations.
- Wear and replace contact lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your eye care provider.
- Remove contact lenses before any activity involving contact with water, including showering, using a hot tub, or swimming. Extended-wear contact lens users should discuss concerns with their eye care provider.
- Wash hands with soap and water and dry before handling contact lenses.
- Clean contact lenses according to the manufacturer's guidelines and instructions from your eye care provider.
- Use fresh cleaning or disinfecting solution each time lenses are cleaned and stored. Never reuse or top off old solution.
- Never use saline solution and rewetting drops to disinfect lenses. Neither solution is an effective or approved disinfectant.
- Store reusable lenses in the proper storage case.
- Storage cases should be rinsed with sterile contact lens solution (never use tap water) and left open to dry after each use.
- Replace storage cases at least once every three months.
This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any questions about the disease described above or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.
