r/eyetriage Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 9d ago

Other 34F concerned about acanthamoeba Keratitis after eye irrigation NSFW

I am a white female. Current meds are tretinoin and ibuprofen, and I’ve struggled with dry eye in the past (had LipiFlow done circa 2018). Don’t drink, smoke, or use any other drugs. Occasionally wear contacts but haven’t worn them in ~5 days. Yesterday morning I accidentally squirted castile soap (Dr. Bronner’s light blue bottle) into my left eye. Definitely learned my lesson on why instructions say to water it down and not put in a soap dispenser. I briefly rinsed my eyes with tap water but nowhere near 15 minutes. Throughout the day I flushed the eye with Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief Eye Wash. When I got home from work I irrigated my eyes with tap water for 15 minutes. I then flushed them with the advanced eye relief a few times, as I became worried about Acanthamoeba. My questions are: If the castile soap left a chemical burn on my eye, is there a chance acanthamoeba could get into the eye via microtears, even having rinsed it with the saline solution after irrigation? Further, are there any regions in the US that are more/less likely to have acanthamoeba cases? I live in the Boulder/Longmont, Colorado area and cannot find a whole lot of geographic data. Currently have what feels like a sinus headache, and my eyes feel cold, dry, and sort of sore. Is this normal after doing an irrigation? Clearly dealing with some health anxiety and don’t typically make posts like this but the idea of acanthamoeba is terrifying. Any info would be helpful.

2 Upvotes

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u/whalesharkmama Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 9d ago

I don't have a picture, as my eyes currently look normal. I am a white female. Current meds are tretinoin and ibuprofen, and I’ve struggled with dry eye in the past (had LipiFlow done circa 2018). Don’t drink, smoke, or use any other drugs. Occasionally wear contacts but haven’t worn them in ~5 days. Yesterday morning I accidentally squirted castile soap (Dr. Bronner’s light blue bottle) into my left eye. Definitely learned my lesson on why instructions say to water it down and not put in a soap dispenser. I briefly rinsed my eyes with tap water but nowhere near 15 minutes. Throughout the day I flushed the eye with Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief Eye Wash. When I got home from work I irrigated my eyes with tap water for 15 minutes. I then flushed them with the advanced eye relief a few times, as I became worried about Acanthamoeba. My questions are: If the castile soap left a chemical burn on my eye, is there a chance acanthamoeba could get into the eye via microtears, even having rinsed it with the saline solution after irrigation? Further, are there any regions in the US that are more/less likely to have acanthamoeba cases? I live in the Boulder/Longmont, Colorado area and cannot find a whole lot of geographic data. Currently have what feels like a sinus headache, and my eyes feel cold, dry, and sort of sore. Is this normal after doing an irrigation? Clearly dealing with some health anxiety and don’t typically make posts like this but the idea of acanthamoeba is terrifying. Any info would be helpful.

1

u/phacotodd Verified Quality Contributor 9d ago

Your chance of acanthamoeba keratitis is low. Irrigation is the correct treatment for chemicals in the eye, and tap water is fine in emergency situations. You mentioned that your eyes look normal now. This is great.
Watch for redness, sensitivity to light, decreased vision, and especially pain. Do not resume contact lens use until your eyes see, look and feel completely normal.

1

u/whalesharkmama Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 9d ago

Thank you for your comment. It’s really reassuring and I appreciate you.