Hidden Dangers: How a Summer Swim Left a Texas Woman Blind in One Eye
Hidden Dangers: How a Summer Swim Left a Texas Woman Blind in One Eye
A summer swim turned tragic for Brooklyn McCasland, a 23-year-old from Texas, after a microscopic parasite left her blind in one eye. During a casual August vacation in Alabama, McCasland unwittingly exposed herself to acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a rare but severe eye infection that enters through contact lenses. The outcome: extreme pain, temporary blindness in her right eye, and a journey to regain her vision.
Initially, her symptoms mimicked a typical eye infection, which led doctors to prescribe standard steroid and antibiotic drops. Unfortunately, this misdiagnosis delayed proper treatment, allowing the parasite to spread. “I had no idea that swimming in contacts could bring me to this point,” McCasland shared on her GoFundMe page, where she also described the relentless pain and her daily struggles with the infection.
Once AK was correctly diagnosed, McCasland’s treatment path became complicated. Since the drops essential to fight AK are only manufactured in the UK, obtaining them quickly was a significant hurdle. Luckily, a medical facility in Dallas had a small supply, enabling her to start treatment without further delay.
Her recovery process has been arduous, involving eye drops every half hour and ongoing, intensive care. Doctors have suggested she may need a cornea transplant once the infection clears—a challenging prospect for the young woman.
AK infections affect roughly 1,500 people annually in the United States, with 90% of cases linked to contact lens wearers. Water exposure while wearing contacts, along with extended lens wear, heightens the risk. McCasland’s experience serves as a powerful reminder to the 45 million contact lens users in the U.S. “If I had only known not to swim with contacts in, I could’ve spared myself this ordeal,” she said, hoping her story will alert others to the risks of improper lens care.
