Parasite In Eyeball Nearly Blinds Teen: Florida High School Student Discovers Cornea-Eating Creature In Her Contact Lens [VIDEO]

A parasite in the eyeball of South Florida teenager nearly caused her to go blind, according to ABC affiliate Local 10.

Ashley Hyde of Pembroke Pines, Fla. found out recently that she had a microscopic parasite in her eyeball due to the fact she had not properly cleaned her contact lens.

The 18-year-old found out about the rare parasite, which had been eating through her cornea, after one of her eyes was red and throbbing and doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong.

"They did multiple cultures where they scrape your eye," Hyde told the station on Monday. "One time, they had to drill into my eye. It was really nasty."

The tests found that Hyde had contracted the parasite, which is called acanthamoeba infection. The cornea-consuming creatures can reportedly be found in dust, the ocean and tap water.

When the parasite gets trapped in a contact in a contact lens, it is bad news for the eyeballs of the victim.

"Every day, we see people come in with contact lens related to infections, complications, ulcers," said Dr. Adam Clarin, an optometric physician who emphasized the need for sanitary contact lenses. "There are all things that are potentially blinding."

Acanthamoeba can also attack humans through cuts or inhalation.

"There is nothing safer or healthier than throwing out the lens every day and starting with a new one the next day," Clarin added.

See Local 10's coverage of the parasite in Ashley Hyde's eyeball RIGHT HERE