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Away from the 13-hour set of TF1 since last December, Marie-Sophie Laccarau will make her comeback on May 16. What is amoebic keratitis, the illness from which she suffered during these long months? The explanations of Pr Antoine Brézin, head of the ophthalmology department at the Cochin hospital in Paris
It was in a video posted on Twitter that the flagship presenter of TF1’s 1 p.m. newscast announced her return to the air: “Finally, finally I know that I will find you, it will be Monday, May 16, we will meet for the newspaper at “1 p.m.” on TF1 and I can’t wait. writes the replacement for Jean-Pierre Pernault.
Ophthalmic problems since last December
Indeed, Marie-Sophie Laccarau had been absent from her position as presenter since the end of 2021. Her ophthalmic problems began last December, “between Christmas and New Year’s Day” explained the journalist. She spoke last February already to justify her absence, she then wore sunglasses and announced that she had been a victim “a rare and severe eye infection“. We now know that it is an amoebic keratitis.
Amoebic keratitis, what is it?
“It is a pathology that generally affects the eye unilaterally, of infectious origin” First of all, Prof. Brézin, head of the ophthalmology department at the Cochin hospital in Paris, indicates. “It almost exclusively affects contact lens wearers due to misuse of the lenses, in almost all cases. It can be cleaning with tap water, swimming in fresh water…”.
The amoeba, which is a parasite found in tap water or fresh lake water, will then develop between the cornea and the lens, which acts as a “bandage” that slows down the feeling of symptoms. “Abymes are parasites, their action is sneaky because they quickly attack the eye and are quite difficult to eradicate, some keratitis takes months to heal”.
What are the symptoms and treatment of amoebic keratitis?
“A patient suffering from keratitis will have a red, painful eye with a decrease in visual acuity, secondarily, but also photophobia, that is to say an intolerance to light. details the specialist. This is the case of Marie-Sophie Laccarau, who began by no longer supporting her lenses before developing photophobia overnight. “In the emergency department, when a patient presents with keratitis, amoebic keratitis should always be suspected. Everything will then depend on the extent of the infection, but amoebic keratitis must be treated in a special way, with eye drops specially prepared in hospital pharmacies. says Professor Brézin.
Consult an ophthalmologist online
The earlier amoebic keratitis is treated, the better the recovery. “Affected patients go through a few complicated weeks, but if they have consulted early enough, it can be treated quite well. Unfortunately, in severe forms that have had time to significantly damage the eye, sequelae, such as reduced visual acuity, may remain. still exhibits Antoine Brézin. For contact lens wearers, remember that:
- You must wash your hands well before handling them, to put them on and to take them off;
- You should not sleep with your contact lenses;
- They must always be cleaned with their specific product and never with tap water;
- Avoid bathing or showering with contact lenses.