Fungal Keratitis Associated With Non-therapeutic Soft Contact Lenses

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology Vol. 142; no. 1; pp. 154 - 155
• Main Authors: Alfonso, Eduardo C., Miller, Darlene, Cantu-Dibildox, Jorge, O’Brien, Terrence P., Schein, Oliver D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.2006; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Contact lenses; Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic - adverse effects; Corneal Ulcer - etiology; Corneal Ulcer - microbiology; Crop diseases; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diseases of cornea, anterior segment and sclera; Eye Infections, Fungal - etiology; Eye Infections, Fungal - microbiology; Fungi; Fusarium - isolation & purification; Humans; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Mycoses - etiology; Mycoses - microbiology; Ophthalmology; Retrospective Studies; Testing laboratories; Ulcers; Eye disease; Association; Keratitis; Contact lens; Instrumentation therapy; Keratopathy; Ophthalmology; Anterior segment disease
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2006.04.025

To report an increase in culture-positive contact lens–associated fungal keratitis. Retrospective, cross-sectional laboratory study. Microbiology records of culture-positive fungal keratitis cases from January 2004 to December 2005 were reviewed. Recovery of fungal pathogens among wearers of contact lenses increased from 26.7% (eight of 30) to 50% (18 of 36) of isolates in 2005. Fusarium species (66 of 122, 54.1%) were the most frequent fungal pathogens. Soft contact lens wear among the Fusarium cases more than doubled (seven of 30, 23.3%, vs 17 of 36, 47.7%, P = .046) from 2004 to 2005. Contact lens wear may be a risk factor in fungal keratitis.