About us

Learn who we are and why we care

The Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) Eye Foundation was created to bring clarity, support, and reliable information to a community that has long been overlooked. Founded in 2022 by Juliette Vila Sinclair Spence after her own experience with AK, the foundation has grown into the first global organization dedicated solely to Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

Our Mission

Our mission is to bring the patient perspective forward — because only patients truly know what is needed, what has been missed, and what must change. What began as one patient’s advocacy has grown into a global effort to amplify the patient voice, improve understanding, and build a community of hope and connection. We collaborate with local patient advocates and partner foundations around the world to support awareness, education, and prevention of Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

Our Goals

Awareness

Raising global awareness of AK and amplifying the patient perspective.

Education

To provide a hub of information about diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Support

To offer support to AK patients, family and friends accross the world.

Our Team

Board of Directors

Juliette Vila Sinclair Spence

Founder & Chairwoman

After experiencing Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) and undergoing an emergency corneal transplant, Juliette dedicated herself to raising awareness and supporting others. She leads with compassion, clarity, and a strong commitment to patient empowerment.

Marco Schraven

Treasurer & ICT Manager

Marco joined the Foundation’s mission after witnessing the impact of AK on his family. With an ICT background in the financial sector, he ensures our systems and resources are managed with care and transparency.

Advisory Board

John KG Dart, MA, DM, FRCOphth

Honorary Advisory Board

Professor John Dart is a clinical scientist at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital. His research focuses on corneal infections and inflammatory diseases of the ocular surface, with recognized expertise in Acanthamoeba Keratitis, Pemphigoid, and clinical trials.

Thomas L. Steinemann, M.D.

Advisory Board

Professor Steinemann is a board‑certified ophthalmologist specializing in cornea and cataract surgery. A longtime Clinical Professor at Case Western Reserve University and Division Director at MetroHealth, he focuses on ocular safety and contact lens policy. He co‑led national efforts that secured U.S. federal regulation of contact lenses as medical devices and serves as a voting member of the FDA Ophthalmic Devices Panel.

Taher Eleiwa, MBBS, PhD

Advisory Board

Dr. Eleiwa earned his medical and surgical degrees at Benha University and completed his PhD in Cornea and External Eye Diseases at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He now practices as a corneal, refractive, and cataract surgeon at Magrabi Hospital, specializing in severe corneal infections, transplantation, and advanced anterior segment disease.

Zachary Reynard, OD, FAAO

Advisory Board

Dr. Reynard graduated cum laude from the advanced scholars program at Salus University and completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses followed by a fellowship in Dry Eye Disease at UAB. He has served as a sub‑investigator in multiple clinical trials and is medical editor for EyeMedsNow. He has treated thousands of patients with complex contact lens complications, including severe infections and corneal transplants.

Christopher A. Rice, PhD

Advisory Board

Dr. Rice is an Assistant Professor at Purdue University and earned his PhD at the University of the West of Scotland, where he studied biochemical drug targets in Acanthamoeba. His research group focuses on developing new anti‑amoebic treatments and creating faster, more sensitive diagnostics for diseases caused by pathogenic free‑living amoebae.

Neil Lagali, PhD

Advisory Board

Professor Lagali is a Full Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology at Linköping University in Sweden, where he leads research on acquired and genetic corneal diseases. He has over 20 years of experience using in vivo confocal microscopy to diagnose Acanthamoeba keratitis and is currently advancing diagnostic refinement through AI‑based tools and expert consensus.

Katie Curro, BSc

Advisory Board

Katie Curro is an ophthalmic technician at Amsterdam UMC specializing in diagnosing Acanthamoeba keratitis with in vivo confocal microscopy. She led a landmark 2019 study defining IVCM patterns throughout treatment and continues to advance research into amoebic keratitis. In 2025, she received the Bayer Ophthalmology Prize for her work on non‑Acanthamoeba species as potential causes.