Email a Friend
Print Article
A Fungus Among Us: Prevention
Have you seen the recent reports regarding serious infections of the clear cornea caused by common fungal organisms? A corneal ulcer is a medical emergency. Treatment is complex and expensive. Surgery is often necessary to save the eye and the visual prognosis is often pessimistic.
Here are three essential keys to keeping your eyes safe from such a blinding infection:
The eyes are continuously bombarded by all kinds of bugs: bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Anyone doing yardwork who has operated a leaf blower without protective goggles knows what I mean. So, why don't we all have these serious eye infections?
The anatomy of the eye is designed to protect the eyesight. Did you know that the healthy tear film has antimicrobial properties? Next, there's layer of delicate cells, the corneal epithelium, that coats the outer corneal surface. So long as these cells remain intact the eye will successfully resist infection. Injury to these epithelial cells exposes the naked cornea and it becomes vulnerable to contamination. That's the gist behind those scary reports out of Miami regarding corneal ulcers due to infection by the common fungus Fusarium.
Contact lens wearers are at risk 24/7 because they touch their eyes frequently, apply and remove their contact lenses, clean and maintain those lenses, and they occasionally overextend their lens schedule. Contact lens overwear damages the epithelial cells and a critical barrier to infection is lost.
Are you one of the millions who wear contact lenses? Take a moment to review your contact lens care plan. Still using ancient bottles of wetting solutions? How old is that case? There's never been a better time to do some spring cleaning and replenish your contact lens supplies.
Related Topics: Vision Problems in Aging Adults, Caring For Your Contacts
Technorati Tags: eye, fungus, infection, contacts
Here are three essential keys to keeping your eyes safe from such a blinding infection:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
- Do not abuse your contact lenses
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
The eyes are continuously bombarded by all kinds of bugs: bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Anyone doing yardwork who has operated a leaf blower without protective goggles knows what I mean. So, why don't we all have these serious eye infections?
The anatomy of the eye is designed to protect the eyesight. Did you know that the healthy tear film has antimicrobial properties? Next, there's layer of delicate cells, the corneal epithelium, that coats the outer corneal surface. So long as these cells remain intact the eye will successfully resist infection. Injury to these epithelial cells exposes the naked cornea and it becomes vulnerable to contamination. That's the gist behind those scary reports out of Miami regarding corneal ulcers due to infection by the common fungus Fusarium.
Contact lens wearers are at risk 24/7 because they touch their eyes frequently, apply and remove their contact lenses, clean and maintain those lenses, and they occasionally overextend their lens schedule. Contact lens overwear damages the epithelial cells and a critical barrier to infection is lost.
Are you one of the millions who wear contact lenses? Take a moment to review your contact lens care plan. Still using ancient bottles of wetting solutions? How old is that case? There's never been a better time to do some spring cleaning and replenish your contact lens supplies.
Related Topics: Vision Problems in Aging Adults, Caring For Your Contacts
Technorati Tags: eye, fungus, infection, contacts
