A 25-year-old woman had to undergo emergency surgery after what she initially thought was just an itchy eye turned out to be a corneal ulcer. Steph Carrasco, a recruitment consultant from Wales, shared her experience with Wales News Service, revealing that she needed a cornea transplant to save her eye. Corneal ulcers are open sores on the layer of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. While they are usually caused by infection or severe dry eye, people who wear contact lenses can be more susceptible if they don’t clean their lenses properly or leave them in for too long. Other risk factors include having cold sores, shingles, chickenpox, 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, Jack Brenton, quickly identified her condition and arranged for immediate treatment. After spending a week in the hospital and receiving 72 eye drops a day, Carrasco ultimately required 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. Thankfully, her vision has improved since the surgery, and doctors anticipate a full recovery by October. Carrasco expressed gratitude for the medical team who helped her during this challenging time. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper contact lens hygiene and regular eye check-ups.