Fusarium sp in severe contact lens related fungal keratitis / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

ABSTRACT

AIM: To report a rare case of severe contact lens related fungal keratitis due to fusarium sp, which not only was successfully treated with therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty but also aided in the confirmation of diagnosis. METHODS:Case report.RESULTS: A 39-year-old private clerk Malay lady who wore extended wear soft contact lens for the past 18 years, presented with acute right eye pain and redness for 10 days duration. Ocular examination showed multiple round feathery paracentral corneal ulcers with presence of minimal hypopyon. Clinical diagnosis of presumed fungal keratitis was made. She was treated with broad spectrum topical antibiotics and antifungal agents after repeated corneal scrapping was negative either for fungi or for the bacteria. However, she developed deterioration of the right eye keratitis. Other topical and systemic antifungal agents were instituted. Unfortunately the right corneal ulcer became further deteriorating. Finally a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty has done in order to preserve the globe and limit the infection after one and a half months of presentation. The diagnosis and the etiology agent were only confirmed based on histopathological examina-tion and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from corneal button revealed fusarium sp.CONCLUSION:This case highlights the rare case of fusarium sp as an etiology of severe contact lens related fungal keratitis. This case also illustrates the challenge in managing fungal keratitis. Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty is the ultimate choice in controlling further infection and perserving the globe.