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HELP US RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT
ACANTHAMOEBA KERATITIS
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What is Acanthamoeba Keratitis?
Acanthamoeba keratitis also known as AK, is a rare disease – but lately becoming common in contact lens wears – devastating eye infection that affects the cornea (the window of the eye).
AK is caused by a free-living amoeba that is typically found in soil and bodies of water (for example, lakes, ponds, and oceans), and that includes tap water; so, showering, bathing, swimming in pools, bathtubs, and even rinsing contact lenses or cases with bathroom or kitchen tap water, amongst others can put you at risk.
Some people have it unilateral AK (one eye) and others bilateral AK (both eyes). Some have Acanthamoeba scleritis which is a rare and painful complication of AK, affecting 10–18% of patients. It can lead to severe vision loss, corneal transplantation, and even enucleation – meaning having to take your eye out, estimated for 5-10% of patients. Is usually misdiagnosed and underestimated the pain.
What We Do
Provide information
We provide information about what is Acanthamoeba Keratitis, useful information for AK Warriors (Patients) and and latest news in regard to AK.
Provide SUPPORT
We provide a A Facebook Support Group for AK Warriors as well as for the Family, Friends, Eye Professionals, Researcher or any interested in learning about the impact.
Want to feel what is like to go through Acanthamoeba Keratitis?
Juliette Vila Sinclair-Spence shares her personal journey through Acanthamoeba Keratitis, how it happened, the diagnosed, the treatment, the aftermath and the impact in had not only on her eye, her mind, her body and her family.
Article
Patient’s Perspective.
What the medical community should know about Acanthamoeba Keratitis.
Authors: Kristin White, OD – , Juliette Vila Sinclair Spence, AK Warrior Patient Advocate
Understanding the patients’ experiences can make the eye professionals a better practitioners and enhance care for future patients. This patient perspective on Acanthamoeba Keratitis seeks to turn the tables and give the patients the opportunity to be the experts in their diseases and ocular conditions to enhance the eyecare the eye professionals provide.
Podcast
Patient Journey about Acanthamoeba Keratitis.
How to prevent, stop misdiagnose, support and work as a team.
Authors: Juliette Vila Sinclair Spence, AK Warrior, Patient Advocate – Guy Lacey, FIECON
Raising awareness about Acanthamoeba keratitis by educating contact lens users (Contact lens and water don’t mix!), eye professionals to stop misdiagnosing AK, understand the impact the disease has, providing the right medical treatment (refer to an expert), support like pain management (excruciating pain) as well as mental support (depression) and encourage all contact lens manufacturers that a “No water” label on all packaging would help the goal.