ELZA Featured in TA Media: National Coverage on Acanthamoeba Keratitis and Contact Lens Hygiene

Today, TA Media published an in-depth report on the risks associated with contact lens wear and the clinical challenge of Acanthamoeba keratitis across its leading Swiss newspapers, including Tages-Anzeiger, Der Bund, Basler Zeitung, and Berner Zeitung. Written by health journalist Stefan Aerni, the article brings national attention to a rare but potentially blinding corneal infection and highlights an innovative therapeutic approach developed in Zurich.
A rare infection, a delayed diagnosis The newspaper article centres on Philipp Gubler, a long-term contact lens wearer who developed severe Acanthamoeba keratitis in his left eye following inadequate lens hygiene. As reported, the initial symptoms were subtle and easily dismissed. Gubler assumed the burning sensation would resolve on its own, as minor irritation had occurred before with lens wear. This time, however, the pain intensified and visual function deteriorated.
After several examinations and an initial failure to identify the cause, a corneal swab finally revealed the diagnosis: Acanthamoeba keratitis — a rare but highly aggressive parasitic infection of the cornea. The article emphasises that such infections are notoriously difficult to diagnose early and can progress rapidly if treatment is delayed.

An underestimated public health risk

TA Media places the case in a broader epidemiological context. Nearly two million people in Switzerland wear contact lenses, a number that continues to rise. While most microbial keratitis cases are bacterial, parasitic infections such as Acanthamoeba keratitis, though rare, are particularly severe and challenging to treat. According to the article, Switzerland sees approximately 500 severe corneal infections per year, with parasites responsible for a small but clinically significant proportion. The risk is strongly associated with lapses in contact lens hygiene. Gubler himself acknowledges this in the report, admitting that he sometimes stored his lenses for too long in the same solution, describing himself as “probably a little careless.”

 

Referral to Zurich and an innovative approach

After conventional topical therapies at a university eye clinic failed to control the infection, the patient was referred to Prof. Farhad Hafezi, MD, PhD, FARVO, a Professor at multiple universities and our Medical Director at the ELZA Institute. The article notes Prof. Hafezi’s long-standing involvement in the development of corneal cross-linking, now an established procedure for stabilising ectatic corneal disease.

In this case, however, the therapeutic strategy went beyond standard protocols. As reported by TA Media, Prof. Hafezi combined riboflavin–UV-A cross-linking with a more recently developed technique, rose bengal–green light cross-linking.

Describing the rationale, he is quoted in the article:

“The combination of these substances leads, under irradiation, to oxidative stress on the cornea, so that the parasites are killed.”

This approach aimed not only to eradicate the pathogens but also to preserve the eye for possible future corneal transplantation — a critical consideration in advanced infectious keratitis.

Severe disease, gradual recovery

The article does not understate the severity of the disease course. At its worst, Gubler experienced constant pain, increasing corneal opacity, and marked visual loss. He described the sensation starkly:

“It felt as if someone had sprayed pepper spray into my eye.”

When the initial treatment attempt did not succeed, he reportedly came close to losing hope altogether. According to the article, up to five percent of patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis ultimately require removal of the eye due to uncontrollable pain.

In Gubler’s case, repeated treatments eventually proved effective, and the infection was brought under control. The successful management of his Acanthamoeba keratitis was later presented in the peer-reviewed journal Eye and Vision, as noted in the newspaper.

Corneal transplantation and outcome

Despite eradication of the infection, the parasitic damage to the cornea was already extensive. Visual acuity in the affected eye had fallen to approximately ten percent, making corneal transplantation unavoidable. The article explains that keratoplasty is now routine in Switzerland, with the cornea being the most frequently transplanted organ.

Following an uncomplicated transplant procedure and subsequent follow-up, the outcome was favourable. At his most recent examination, Gubler had regained approximately 60 percent visual acuity in the affected eye, and the eye was clinically healthy. Reflecting on the outcome, he told the newspaper:

“I was lucky in my misfortune.”

Hygiene as prevention

The TA Media report concludes with a clear preventive message. Contact lenses offer important advantages — optical, functional, and even therapeutic — but only when basic hygiene principles are strictly followed. The article reiterates expert recommendations, including the exclusive use of approved care solutions, complete replacement of storage fluid after each use, regular replacement of lens cases, and avoiding contact with tap water.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Farhad Hafezi, MD, PhD, FARVO

ELZA Institute and public engagement

The nationwide coverage across multiple TA Media titles highlights the importance of translating clinical innovation and complex ophthalmic disease into public awareness. At ELZA, our focus remains on evidence-based corneal care, advanced cross-linking technologies, and the management of complex infectious and ectatic corneal disease.

Further information on Prof. Farhad Hafezi’s clinical and scientific background is available here.