A woman says she was left blind in one eye after contracting a flesh-eating parasite - from the tap or swimming pool.<br /><br />Shereen-Fay Griffin, 38, lost sight in her left eye just under a year ago.<br /><br />She believes she contracted the infection - acanthamoeba keratitis - two days after she had a swim at a local pool.<br /><br />The infection is caused by a microscopic organism called Acanthamoeba, which is common in nature and is usually found in bodies of water.<br /><br />At first, Shereen's symptoms were innocuous - itchiness, soreness and fatigue.<br /><br />She consulted a GP who referred her to an optician who then referred her to an ophthalmologist. <br /><br />Shereen was treated with steroids and told she would receive a call to set up a follow-up appointment<br /><br />But as the weeks went on, the pain worsened and Shereen never received a call. <br /><br />Almost ten weeks after her initial appointment, on November 9, she woke up blind in her left eye.<br /><br />Shereen, who's from Crayford in Kent, went swimming at a local leisure center on August 19 last year. <br /><br />Two days later, her left eye started to become itchy and sore. <br /><br />Shereen, a Learning Support Assistant at a local secondary school, said: "My eye was sore, itchy and scratchy. <br /><br />"My eyelid was heavy and I was feeling fatigued.<br /><br />"I had been swimming. I used the swimming pool and shower there.<br /><br />"I had also washed my face at home in the morning and night."<br /><br />After trying over-the-counter treatment, Shereen went to her GP who prescribed her a week's antibiotics, which did nothing.<br /><br />Her GP advised her to visit an optician, who gave her an urgent referral to Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup on September 1st.<br /><br />There she was diagnosed with herpes simplex eye infection and given steroids and antibacterial eye drops.<br /><br />But instead of improving, her symptoms continued to worsen.<br /><br />Shereen was told she would receive a call for a follow-up appointment within the week, but she says this never happened.<br /><br />The following weeks Shereen says she called the hospital multiple times and even walked in herself, but received no follow-up.<br /><br />She was given additional meds and sent home. <br /><br />On November 9, Shereen woke up "in the most excruciating pain" and blind in one eye.
