Acanthamoeba keratitis is most commonly associated with:
- A Use of rigid gas-permeable contact lenses in non-urban settings
- B Soft contact lens use combined with exposure to contaminated water (swimming, tap water rinsing) ✓
- C Post-penetrating keratoplasty steroid use
- D Systemic immunocompromise (HIV/AIDS, neutropenia)
Correct answer: B. Soft contact lens use combined with exposure to contaminated water (swimming, tap water rinsing)
Explanation
Acanthamoeba keratitis is strongly associated with soft contact lens wear, particularly improper lens hygiene such as rinsing lenses with tap water, swimming or showering in contact lenses, or using non-sterile saline solutions. The amoeba infects the corneal stroma and causes a characteristic ring infiltrate with severe pain disproportionate to the clinical signs. It is not primarily related to RGP lenses or systemic immunocompromise.
Reference: Khurana Comprehensive Ophthalmology, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.