California eye doctor Dr Katerina Kurteeva couldn’t believe what she was seeing when she found dozens of contact lenses stuck in her patient’s eye. (PHOTO: Instagram/california_eye_associates)
When an elderly woman walked into a clinic complaining of pain and blurred vision, ophthalmologist Dr Katerina Kurteeva immediately began mentally going through a checklist of possible reasons.
“My mind jumped at the possibilities of what it could be,” says the doctor from Newport Beach, Calif. “A piece of broken contact lens, a scratch on the cornea, an infection, an eyelash or makeup debris.”
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At first she couldn’t see the cause of the pain, but then she noticed something that completely stunned her.
“When I asked her to look down, I could see the edges of a few contacts stuck together,” says Dr. Kurteeva. “As I removed them, I felt I could still see more and asked my assistant to pick up my phone to record the removal.”
It took a while, but she eventually removed a grand total of 23 lenses.
Apparently the unidentified woman forgot to remove her contacts when she fell asleep.
“A rare occasion where someone ‘forgot’ to remove their contact lenses at night and continued to put in a new one every morning. 23 days in a row! I had to deliver the batch of contact lenses yesterday to my clinic,” the amazed Dr. Kurteeva shared in an Instagram video post.
Doctor Kurteeva says the patient’s corneal nerve endings may have been desensitized because she had been wearing contacts for 30 years. (PHOTO: Instagram/california_eye_associates)
His followers couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
“I’m freaking out with a lash in my eye! one person wrote.
While another questioned the patient: “Well ma’am, where the hell did you think they were going?”
Many users were concerned about women’s health. One wrote, “It would be there, if I was a practitioner, I wouldn’t write any scripts for her contacts.
Another wrote, “Still blown away by this! I bet she loves blinking now.”
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Dr. Kurteeva says she posted the video to warn others about what can happen if your lenses and eyes aren’t properly cared for.
How to take care of your contact lenses
Maintain good hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water before handling your lenses, then rinse and dry your hands with a lint-free towel.
Reduce your exposure to water and saliva. Before swimming or using a spa, remove your contact lenses. Do not put your lenses in your mouth to moisten them.
Use contact lens solution with caution. Use only commercially prepared sterile products designed specifically for the type of contact lenses you wear. When disinfecting and storing your contact lenses, discard the solution in the contact lens case. Gently rub and rinse your lenses as directed by your optometrist. Do not use contact lens solution that has passed its expiry date.
Contact lenses and cases should be replaced as instructed. Replace your contact lenses according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Whenever you are finished using your case, clean and rinse it with sterile contact lens solution. Never use tap water. While the case air dries, consider turning it upside down to drain out any solution. Every three months, replace your case.
Over-the-counter contact lenses should be avoided. These lenses can cause eye damage and infections. Consult your optometrist if you are interested in decorative contact lenses.
The video is also used by some optometrists to educate people about the dangers of not removing their daily contact lenses before bed.
Most contact lenses are taken out of the patient’s eye as a group. (PHOTO: Instagram/california_eye_associates)
The good doctor is still shocked, however.
“In almost 20 years of practice, I had never seen anything like it,” says Dr. Kurteeva.
Sources: Insider, Independent, Instagram, Kcentv, Mayo Clinic
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