Mycotic Keratitis

Abstract

Mycotic keratitis is a distressing infection and may lead to permanent blindness. Fifty two cases of suspected mycotic keratitis were studied from Jan 91 to Sep 94. Specimens were collected on swabs in 2 0 cases and by corneal scraping in 32 cases. Wet mount examination of the specimens revealed fungal elements in 8 (15.4%) cases, of which 3 specimens were collected on swabs and 5 by corneal scraping. Fungi were isolated from a total of 12 (23.1%) specimens 5 of which were obtained by swabs while 7 by corneal scraping. Important pathogens were Fusarium spp, Aspergillus spp, Candida albicans and Cephalosporium spp. Direct examination of the specimens was found to be less sensitive than culture for the diagnosis of mycotic keratitis. M J A F I 1 9 9 5 ; 51 : 267-269

Demetiaceous Fungal Keratitis

“…A large study of fungal keratitis in Madras [4], observed only 5 per cent cases out of 698 cases studied to be caused by Curvularia. Other studies from Lucknow [5] and Pune [6] did not show any case of curvularia keratitis. Single case report of curvularia keratitis have also appeared in the literature [7].…”