Brooklyn resident Oscar E. Martinez Ruiz left his contact lenses in his eyes one night after coming home late, a decision he soon regretted after waking up with irritation, dryness, and minor pain in his right eye.
While he tried to manage the inflammation with eye drops, the days and weeks that followed brought a cascade of worsening symptoms.
Ruiz had a bacterial corneal ulcer, also known as bacterial keratitis, a common condition among contact lens users—particularly those who use “disposable” lenses. There’s a greater infection risk, which can quickly become serious.
“We see it quite often—in fact, conditions caused by contact lens misuse are a leading cause of vision loss,” explains Himani Goyal, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Fortunately for Ruiz, recent advances have made corneal transplantation safer and more successful, and his condition was diagnosed in time to save his sight.
‘Like Someone Putting a Stick in Your Eye Constantly’
By the time Ruiz received his diagnosis and consulted with a team at the NYU Langone Eye Center, his symptoms had devolved from manageable irritation to discomfort that seriously impacted his quality of life. He had visited multiple doctors and tried numerous interventions, including corneal regeneration and injections, over three months. His eyes were so light sensitive that he could no longer leave his dark apartment, and he was unable to use a computer for his job in creative production.
“At that point it was beginning to turn things upside down in my life,” Ruiz shares. “It felt like someone was putting a stick in my eye constantly. I was getting horrible headaches. I couldn’t sleep. It just completely disrupts your life, because you’re just waiting for the moment when the pain is going to hit.”
The Eye Center team told Ruiz he was at high risk for eye loss and recommended corneal transplantation, explaining that a new cornea was likely to resolve his symptoms almost immediately. Ready to move forward and save his sight, Ruiz agreed to pursue the surgery.
Readily Available Cornea Speeds Time to Surgery
Based on the word “transplant” alone Ruiz assumed he would be added to a lengthy wait list. However, two things worked in his favor: Unlike lung or heart transplants, a patient’s blood type does not affect the body’s acceptance of a new cornea, so more tissue can match with more patients. Additionally, Eye Center surgeons can tap a national network of eye banks that includes The Eye-Bank of New York, an independent, nonprofit organization that recovers, processes, and distributes donor eye tissue.
The Eye-Bank of New York is available 24/7 to provide healthy donor tissue that fits the needs of patients—including Ruiz, who was scheduled for surgery the very next day.
“As we’ve enhanced corneal transplantation techniques over the past 15 years, The Eye-Bank of New York has helped distribute tissue to patients across New York, the nation, and even the world,” says Dr. Goyal, current chair of The Eye-Bank’s Medical Advisory Board. “Fortunately, patients now rarely need to wait for a sight-sparing transplant.”
What a Difference a Transplant Makes
Though the surgery would be Ruiz’s first, he was instantly put at ease when he visited NYU Langone Ambulatory Care Center East 41st Street for the outpatient procedure. “They have this incredible, state-of-the-art technology; every time I visit, they have new machines,” he says. “They actually showed me a map of my eye and explained everything about the procedure.”
Following the brief surgery, Ruiz experienced “instant” relief. “Right away, I had no more pain,” he says.
During his recovery from his first procedure, Ruiz experienced ongoing vision changes that required a second transplant. He later underwent treatment for cataracts, a common side effect from anti-rejection eye drops after transplantation. Ruiz’s contact lens-wearing days are over, and he remains extra cautious in guarding his eyes from potential infection.
Ruiz remains grateful to NYU Langone, The Eye-Bank of New York, and his eye donor for helping him keep his sight and return to his active lifestyle—so grateful that he now volunteers as an Eye-Bank advocate. “Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate needing a cornea, so I want to share my story and educate patients and potential donors,” Ruiz says. “This was one of those experiences that makes you appreciate living in a city where you can get access to such highly specialized care.”
