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.
• 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.
  1. Use fresh cleaning or disinfecting solution each time lenses are cleaned and stored. Never reuse or top off old solution.
  2. Never use saline solution or rewetting drops to disinfect lenses. Neither solution is an effective or approved disinfectant.
• Store reusable lenses in the proper storage case.
  1. Storage cases should be rinsed with sterile contact lens solution (never use tap water) and left open to dry after each use.
  2. Replace storage cases at least once every three months.

Contact lens users with questions regarding which solutions are best for them should consult their eye care providers. They should also consult their eye care providers if they have any of the following symptoms: eye pain or redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, sensation of something in the eye, or excessive tearing.

Unfortunately, at this point in time it is unclear what steps one can take to prevent Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE) and disseminated infection, both of which are very rare. Since persons with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to Acanthamoeba infection, they should follow the advice of their treating physician carefully.

Resources

• FDA, Focusing on Contact Lens Safety [PDF - 3 pages]
• FDA, Ensuring Safe Use of Contact Lens Solution [PDF - 2 pages]