What is acanthamoeba keratitis?

What is acanthamoeba keratitis?

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a serious infection that affects the cornea (clear outer covering of the eye). It’s caused by an amoeba, which is a tiny, single-celled organism. The amoeba enters your eye and eats through the layers of your cornea. It destroys tissue as it moves through your eye. The acanthamoeba is common in the air, soil, lakes and oceans. Most infections come from fresh water, such as tap water, swimming pools, hot tubs, showers and sewage systems.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is rare, but it can lead to eye pain, permanent vision loss or even total blindness. The infection can affect one or both eyes. It’s not contagious.