A 25-year-old woman had a scary experience when she discovered that an itchy eye caused by contact lenses was actually a corneal ulcer. Steph Carrasco, a recruitment consultant from Wales, had to undergo emergency cornea transplant surgery to save her eye. Corneal ulcers are open sores on the layer of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. People who wear contact lenses can be more susceptible to developing corneal ulcers if they don’t clean their lenses properly or leave them in for too long. Other risk factors include having cold sores, shingles, chicken pox, using steroid eye drops, having dry eyes, or eyelid disorders. Symptoms of corneal ulcers include redness, pain, swelling, and a white spot on the cornea. Carrasco’s optometrist quickly identified her ulcer and arranged for immediate treatment at a hospital. Despite receiving 72 eye drops per day to reduce the size of the ulcer, Carrasco ultimately needed surgery. Most corneal ulcers heal within two to three weeks with proper treatment, but in rare cases like Carrasco’s, a corneal transplant is necessary. Fortunately, her vision has improved after the surgery, and doctors expect her to make a full recovery by October. Carrasco expressed gratitude for her optometrist and the hospital’s medical team for their help during this challenging time. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper contact lens hygiene and regular eye check-ups.