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https://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/5757

General
Acanthamoeba polyphaga is a parasite and free-living organism. Polyphaga is a species in the genus Acanthamoeba. This organism is a protozoa that is eukaryote. Acanthamoeba species is responsible for acanthamoeba keratitis. Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but serious infection of the eye that can result in permanent visual impairment or blindness.

Life Cycle
Acanthamoeba has only two stages, cysts, and trophozoites in its life cycle. These two stages shift between favorable and unfavorable conditions. When there is favorable conditions these protozoa will be in the feeding trophozoite stage. When conditions are unfavorable they will be in the protected dormant cyst stage until favorable conditions arise. Acanthamoeba spp. are free-living amebae that inhabit a variety of air, soil, and water environments.

Disease
Acanthamoeba keratitis, first recognized in 1973, is a rare, vision threatening, parasitic infection seen most often in contact lens wearers. Keratitis happens when an Acanthamoeba spp. enters the eye, normally through contact lenses, and begins to eat away at the eye. This is also know as ulceration and can happen in the skin and eye. The only cases of ulceration of the skin is on immunocompromised patients (AIDS). Two of the eight known species of Acanthamoeba, A. castellanii and A polyphaga, are responsible for most infections.

Physiology
The trophozoites were generally uninucleate, produced a broad lobopodium, possessed fine acanthopodia, and had a mean length of 23 µm. This are larger than blood cells which are 8 µm. During the trophozoite stage they use pseudopods for movement. The cysts were double-walled, the outer being wrinkled and the inner polyhedral or stellate, and had a mean diameter of 10 µm. This are around the size of red blood cells and they are immobile.

Prevention
Prevention is best to never use water when cleaning your contacts only sterile solution. Also, avoid wearing contacts when involving contact with water including showering, in a hot tub, or swimming.