Woman loses eye contact lens fungus,Jacqueline Stone, 42, spent 17 weeks in hospital after wearing popular disposables for just one day and claims that the pain was excruciating.

She is now taking legal action believing the infection was caused by Focus Dailies All-Day Comfort lenses which she had ordered online.

The lenses were uncomfortable all day and when attempted to remove them the left one became stuck to her eye, Ms Stone said.

Her vision became blurred after the incident last May and she visited her doctor, who provided her with eye drops.

But two days later, the maths teaching assistant was in so much pain that she went to the Accident and Emergency department where she was given more drops.

Her condition continued to deteriorate and a form of blister began to cover over her eye. It eventually burst, in the process “splitting” her eyeball, the mother of two said.

She added: "I was screaming. My 15-year-old son Charlie called an ambulance and I was given morphine, but it didn't touch the pain. I've given birth twice but nothing compares to that. I could feel the bug eating through my eye."

Ms Stone saw specialists at her local Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, and at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, who prescribed drops.

It was only a month later when she attended Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, that they diagnosed her with a fungal eye infected caused by Fusarium.

Three layers of her eye and 70 nerves had been damaged and after 22 operations she had to have her eyeball removed.

Powerful drugs that she was prescribed during the process also caused severe vomiting which led to internal bleeding
Ms Stone, who said she is afraid the infection could return, bought the lenses from Lenstore.co.uk. Alcon EyeCare UK Ltd are the parent company for Cibavision, the company which makes the lenses.

She is now planning to sue Alcon and Broomfield and Moorfields Hospitals.

Alcon say they have investigated and been unable to find any connection between the contact lens and the problems Ms Stone experienced.

A spokesperson for Moorfields Eye Hospital said: "Moorfields is sorry to hear Ms Stone’s sad story and offers her our sympathy at this difficult time. We take any allegations about the care received by our patients very seriously and undertake thorough investigations to identify any necessary improvements.

"We will review the care received by Ms Stone to assure ourselves that she was appropriately treated at Moorfields. No legal claim has yet been commenced."

A spokesman for Broomfield added: "The Trust clearly sympathise with Ms Stone regarding the loss of her eye and has investigated the circumstances surrounding it. This has included working with Ms Stone to ensure we can pass on any learning within the trust.

"Not withstanding the likelihood of legal proceedings we hope this positive co-operation will continue."

The Fusarium fungus, which is found in soil, water and organic matter, was responsible for an infection outbreak in the US in 2006, in which 154 people were infected and 34 per cent needed cornea transplants.

Experts say that although it is rare when it infection occurs it attacks the cornea and can be very difficult to treat. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential.

The symptoms include blurred or failing vision, clouding of the eyes surface, irritation and discharge, pain, and sensitivity to light.

The British Contact Lens Association said that ways to avoid infection include - not using tap water during to rinse lenses or the storage case, not wearing lenses while swimming without goggles, showering or in hot tubs, and drying your hands properly before using contacts.