Blinded after applying contact lenses with wet hands
I had acanthamoeba in 2001.<p>You pretty much have to have a corneal abrasion (scratch) before introducing the eye to water.  It's not something you're going to get randomly from taking a shower or swimming.  However, wearing contacts regularly for the last twenty years, I tend to get an abrasion once every two years or so.  I'm extra careful during these times..<p>In 2001, there were about 7 cases in the US per year.  It took me 6 months of excruciating pain and three eye doctors just to diagnose it.  Luckily the third doctor really knew what he was doing.  He diagnosed it in about 2-3 visits, snuck me some non-FDA approved drops with chlorine in them, and got rid of the infection.<p>I had to do a corneal transplant and still can't see very well out of it - cloudy with an astigmatism too large to correct.<p>Here's a good resource:  <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3972779/" rel="nofollow">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3972779/</a>