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 are more susceptible to 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, 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 sought medical help when her eye became itchy, and her optometrist quickly identified the ulcer and arranged for immediate treatment. Despite receiving 72 eye drops a day in an attempt 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, Carrasco’s vision has improved after the surgery, and her doctors anticipate a full recovery by October. Carrasco expressed gratitude for her optometrist and the hospital’s 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.