This viral video of an optometrist in Newport Beach, California, extracting 23 contact lenses from the eye of one of her patients is all over social media. Sure, this will be an appalling and unforgettable reminder to people not to forget to remove their contact lenses at night.

What Started as a Discomfort in the Eye

Optometrist Katerina Kurteeva told Insider that at the end of the day, a patient in her mid-70s who used daily contact lenses came in complaining that she felt something was stuck in her eye.

There are many possible causes, and the doctor said she immediately thought of a shard of a shattered contact lens, a cut on the cornea, an infection, an eyelash, or particles of cosmetic products. A further inspection was done to ensure what was probably in her patient's eye.

Further Examination

Kurteeva started the routine examination by applying a yellow stain to the patient's eye to make any scratches or foreign bodies more visible. She was taken aback when she looked all over the cornea and into the upper and lower fornices or the pockets in the eyelid, where sensitivity is reduced, and items may occasionally get caught.

Initially, nothing was found apart from a bit of mucus, a natural reaction to discomfort. Kurteeva decided to try a new approach.

The doctor reached for the eyelid speculum, a proper dystopian-looking small equipment that can hold the upper and lower eyelids open. She was then able to examine the affected eye more thoroughly.

Read Also: Eye Disease Treatment and Prevention Through Smart LED Contact Lenses: How Effective Is It?

There it is!

Kurteeva finally saw something when she asked her client to look down. A couple of contact lenses were sticking together. As she was removing them, she realized there was more to see.

The stacked lenses are described as a gigantic, dark purple blob nearly appearing like a second pupil.

"In my 20 years as a doctor, I've never seen anything like it," Kurteeva told Insider.

Is it possible?

It seems strange that a person failed to notice that she had more than 20 contact lenses jammed into her eye. However, Kurteeva said it is possible to happen.

The patient's age may have played a role. For instance, the fornices are often deeper in the elderly, giving the patient more space to forget their lenses without experiencing any discomfort.

Otherwise, it more likely had something to do with the contact lenses. A person's eyes lose some of their sensitivity after having a foreign object thrust into them on a daily basis.

Kurteeva warned that prolonged contact lens usage might dull the cornea's nerve endings.

A Fortunate Event, Still

Whatever the case may be, the patient was very fortunate to leave the clinic unharmed. The incident could have resulted in lost eyesight, damaged cornea, or infection.

While the video is certainly disturbing to see, it now serves as yet another important reminder to take all necessary precautions while handling contact lenses.

Also Read: FDA Approves J&J's Medicated Eye Contacts for Allergies and Itchy Eyes, Without the Need for Drops

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Written by Trisha Kae Andrada