And perhaps yours too. Welcome to a new work week.

I really love today's story because so many of us wear contacts. Estimates suggest 25 million Americans wear contacts and a growing number of people are turning to laser surgery. So anything that looks at the data through an unbiased filter is good in my book!

Yeah, no more sticking the contacts in your mouth and then popping them back in your eye. Dr. Mathers says the mouth is even worse than tap water for all kinds of nasties that your eye really doesn't want floating around on it. They do sell travel size bottles of solution which may not be a bad idea to carry around. I actually have daily disposables and usually have a spare (and a spare set of glasses too since my eyes are somewhat dry).

Dr. Mathers says it's actually tough to compare the risks between the two (contacts versus laser surgery) because problems tend to kick in at different times. With surgery you are more likely to have problems right up front and with contacts you are more likely to develop an infection the more years you use them. The thinking is it's like a compound risk. Over 30 years, you've put those contacts in your eye thousands of times and that alone ups your risk.

Now, with the acanthamoeba infection, often it's hard for doctors to catch in the early stages because it's rare so doctors don't immediately suspect it. Again, estimates vary but by rare we mean anywhere from one in 10,000 to one in one million. It also just seems like a run of the mill infection at first possibly caused by a scratch on the eye. But in bad cases it doesn't go away and continues to get worse. Estimates vary but about 85% of these infections are caused by the improper use/care of contact lenses. Note to us: don't use tapwater to store or rinse your contacts.

For some tips and some symptoms to watch for, click here:
http://www.bcla.org.uk/acanthamoeba.asp

For background info:
http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DPD/parasites/acanthomoeba/factsht_acanthamoeba.htm#symptoms

I suppose I don't have to say it, but there are all kinds of infections you can get in your eye that are more common than the one we talked about today.

http://vision.about.com/od/othereyediseases/a/eyeinfections.htm

Just play it safe by following the directions your eye doctor gave you. It may not provide 100% protection but it should help.

Picture time!! Here is a picture of my friend Angie and I as we got ready to fly out for a girls weekend. There were 6 of us in all and I had the BEST time!! Makes me want to go back right now... :-D And yes, we all had cat ears on and beads. We're a goofy bunch.

P.S. Hi Rob.. no, I haven't seen Joe Donlon sitting on that big exercise ball I snagged that picture of a few months back but I just checked on it and got a laugh. I'll post that picture tomorrow!!!
Email me: sstricklen@kgw.com