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Report: This Woman Got 27 Contact Lenses Stuck in Her Eye

By U.S. News & World Report

A 67-year-old woman in the U.K. went to the hospital for a routine cataract surgery, but nothing about the visit was routine at all, according to a short article published earlier this month in the British Medical Journal.

That’s because doctors discovered 27 contact lenses in her eye while prepping her for surgery. To be clear: They found a blueish clump of 17 contact lenses initially, and another 10 upon further examination, Dr. Rupal Morjaria told Optometry Today.

“When she was seen two weeks after I removed the lenses she said her eyes felt a lot more comfortable,” Morjaria added. The doctors delayed the cataract surgery.

She apparently had worn monthly disposable contact lenses for 35 years. The patient did have at least one extenuating circumstance that could’ve accounted for the sheer number of embedded contact lenses.

“She had poorer vision in the right eye and deep-set eyes, which might have contributed to the unusually large number of retained foreign bodies,” according to the journal article. “This case highlights the importance of appropriate candidate selection and monitoring of contact lens wearers.”

The Washington Post pointed to a number of tweets confused by the story, including one that read, “How is this even possible? How did she not feel the lenses?”

How is this even possible? How did she not feel the lenses?

— Janine Duffy (@j9duffy)

July 16, 2017

The tweets didn’t stop there:

If you never had a phobia of contact lenses, well, you will now… pic.twitter.com/Bd4txhprON

— Raz (@raztweets)

July 15, 2017

that woman’s contact lenses were bound together by mucus. I have never been so disgusted in my life.

— MissanBae Worm (@therAfua)

July 17, 2017

Doctors removed 27 contact lenses from woman’s eyes during surgery she didn’t know were there. No one ever said she had an eye for detail.

— Emile Hirsch (@EmileHirsch)

July 17, 2017

I’ve worn contact lenses for 40 years, and this is just impossible to imagine

— Jim Handman (@JimHandman)

July 17, 2017

For what it’s worth, the situation surprised Morjaria and other health professionals.

“We were really surprised that the patient didn’t notice it because it would cause quite a lot of irritation while it was sitting there,” Morjaria also told Optometry Today.

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Report: This Woman Got 27 Contact Lenses Stuck in Her Eye originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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