Fungal keratitis in a soft contact lens wearer.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of fungal keratitis in a soft contact lens wearer.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

A 57 year old female, compliant, frequent replacement soft contact lens wearer, with a possible prior history of herpes simplex keratitis, presented with pain and injection of her left eye of four weeks duration. Gram stain of a corneal ulcer of the left eye revealed fungal organisms and cultures grew Fusarium solani. The infiltrate responded to topical and systemic antifungal agents, but a corneal perforation developed which required a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

Fungal infections are a cause of corneal ulcers in contact lens wearers. Despite the use of topical and systemic antifungal agents, fungal ulcers frequently require surgical intervention.