Fusarium keratitis following the use of topical antibiotic-corticosteroid therapy in traumatised eyes.

Abstract

Keratomycosis is a rare sight-threatening infection of the cornea. Important predisposing factors in its pathogenesis include corneal trauma and use of topical corticosteroid or antibiotic-corticosteroid therapy. Some family physicians are unaware of the dangers of unmonitored topical corticosteroid therapy for traumatised eyes. Three cases of Fusarium keratitis following the use of topical antibiotic-corticosteroid therapy in traumatised eyes are reported. Despite aggressive anti-fungal therapy, one eye required a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty for impending corneal perforation, another eye progressed to corneal perforation and required evisceration while the third eye developed endophthalmitis which also required evisceration. The potential danger of fungal infections of the cornea following the unmonitored use of topical antibiotic-corticosteroids in traumatised eyes is highlighted.