Eye infection among contact wearers on the rise in US

[bartongrl1]

April 7, 2025 -- A rare infection from a fungus that can threaten eyesight has been reported in several U.S. wearers of soft contact lenses.

The fungus causes a fungal keratitis, an infection of the cornea. The fungus, fusarium, is commonly present in the environment in plant matter. The CDC has reports of about 50 possible cases in 12 states so far this year, but it's not clear if that's more than usual, according to the Associated Press. Cases have also been reported in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, the Associated Press notes.

The risk of an eye infection from the fungus is "extremely small," states the web site of the American Optometric Association (AOA). The main cause of keratitis infections in contact lens wearers is bacteria.

The AOA lists these symptoms for keratitis:

Red and irritated eyes lasting for an unusually long period of time after lens removal.
Pain in and around the eyes, especially if that pain progressively worsens.
Increased sensitivity to light.
Rapid onset of blurred or fuzzy vision.
Excessive tearing or discharge.
People with those symptoms should remove their lenses immediately and seek care as soon as possible, the AOA advises.