Acanthamoeba Keratitis Awareness
It is rare, but is it worth the risk?
What is AK?
Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) is a severe eye infection caused by a microscopic parasite. AK is often misdiagnosed and difficult to treat due to the symptoms. Acanthamoeba Keratitis causes extreme light sensitivity, irritation, and sometimes blindness.
Contact Lenses
Contact lens wearers have a higher chance of getting Acanthamoeba Keratitis. The amoeba can rest on the contact and remain on the eye.
Donation
During summer of 2026, I, Jackie Albrecht, will be researching AK at Purdue University. I will attend Dr. Christopher Rice’s lab, which studies the discovery of new drugs to help target and kill amoebas. I plan to learn more about this parasite, and explore new research techniques.