A 25-year-old woman had a scary experience when she discovered that her itchy eye was actually a corneal ulcer caused by wearing contact lenses. 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. While they are usually caused by infection or severe dry eye, contact lens wearers are at a higher risk if they don’t properly clean their lenses or leave them in for too long. Other factors that increase the risk of corneal ulcers 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 the feeling of having something in the eye. Carrasco’s optometrist quickly identified her ulcer and arranged for immediate treatment at a hospital. She spent a week in the hospital receiving 72 eye drops a day to reduce the size of the ulcer, but 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. Thankfully, Carrasco’s vision has improved after the surgery, and doctors expect her to make a full recovery by October. She 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.