Jhanji, Vishal, Beltz, Jacqueline, Vajpayee, Rasik B · Eye & contact lens · 2008 · DOI
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.
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.
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.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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