Fungal keratitis

Fungal keratitis is an infrequently encountered microbial keratitis, but its diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties continue to challenge the ophthalmologist. Most prevalent in warmer climates,(1) keratomycoses are associated most often with diseased corneas, external and surgical trauma,(2,3) and an environment altered by topical antibiotics, steroids,(4,5) and both therapeutic and cosmetic contact lens use.(6) The increase in the number of reported cases of fungal keratitis most likely reflects the increased laboratory awareness of fungi as pathogenic organisms in microbial keratitis as well as the increased use of topical steroids. Despite laboratory confirmation of keratomycoses, the treatment remains challenging and prolonged, often requiring surgical intervention once medical treatment has failed.(7).