The Clinical Laboratory Sciences department in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Basrah organized a panel discussion entitled (Keratitis caused by spina bifida) with the participation of researchers and specialists.
 The panel discussion included a lecture given by Dr. Hanadi Mohsen Mahdi, in which she explained the pathogen and its types, the symptoms associated with the injury, the sources of the infection, then the diagnosis and the available treatments.
 Where the infecting amoeba is normally found in water, air and soil.  The infection occurs when it reaches the eye directly or through contamination of the contact lens preservation fluid. The initial symptoms of the infection include pain and redness in the eye, blurry vision, increased tearing in the affected eye with swelling of the eyelids, and it is noted that a ring forms around the cornea.  The infection may eventually lead to corneal damage if left untreated or if the amoeba is resistant to conventional treatments