<i>Acanthamoeba</i> keratitis: confirmation of the UK outbreak and a prospective case-control study identifying contributing risk factors

Abstract

AK is a largely preventable disease. The current outbreak is unlikely to be due to any one of the identified risk factors in isolation. Improving CL and hand hygiene, avoiding CLs contamination with water and use of effective CL disinfection solutions, or daily disposable CLs, will reduce the incidence of AK. In the longer-term, water avoidance publicity for CL users can be expected to reduce the incidence further. Ongoing surveillance of AK numbers will identify changes in incidence earlier. Evaluation of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> contamination in end-user drinking water would contribute to our understanding of regional variations in the risk of exposure.