Contact lens-related acanthamoeba keratitis in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Jhanji, Vishal, Beltz, Jacqueline, Vajpayee, Rasik B · Eye & contact lens · 2008 · DOI
Quick Summary
This case report describes a man with ME/CFS who developed a serious eye infection from improper contact lens care. Because his ME/CFS made it difficult for him to maintain proper lens hygiene, bacteria-like organisms called Acanthamoeba infected his cornea (the clear front part of his eye). He eventually needed eye surgery to restore his vision after medical treatments alone did not work.
Why It Matters
This case highlights an often-overlooked practical concern for ME/CFS patients: the disease's profound fatigue and functional limitations may interfere with daily hygiene tasks, including contact lens care, potentially leading to serious complications. The report raises awareness among both ophthalmologists and ME/CFS clinicians about the need for proactive monitoring and patient education regarding contact lens safety.
Observed Findings
58-year-old male with CFS developed contact lens-related Acanthamoeba keratitis
Medical management alone failed to resolve the infection
Penetrating keratoplasty was performed
At 3-month follow-up, complete graft re-epithelialization was observed
Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/80 in the operated eye with no recurrence
Inferred Conclusions
Incapacitating chronic illnesses such as CFS can impair patients' ability to maintain proper contact lens hygiene, increasing infection risk
Acanthamoeba keratitis in CFS patients may require surgical intervention when medical management fails
Clinicians should counsel CFS patients on contact lens safety or consider alternative vision correction
Remaining Questions
How frequently do ME/CFS patients experience contact lens-related infections compared to the general population?
Are there specific disease severity thresholds at which contact lens use becomes unsafe for CFS patients?
Would switching to alternative vision correction methods (glasses, surgical correction) reduce infection risk in functionally impaired patients?
What This Study Does Not Prove
This single case report does not establish the prevalence of contact lens-related infections in ME/CFS populations, nor does it prove that ME/CFS directly causes Acanthamoeba keratitis. The infection resulted from improper hygiene practices—a behavioral consequence of illness severity—rather than a direct biological mechanism of CFS. No comparison group or systematic data collection limits generalizability.
Tags
Symptom:Fatigue
Method Flag:Weak Case DefinitionNo ControlsSmall Sample