Corneal Ulcer due to Monkeypox Infection.

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of keratitis due to monkeypox infection.

METHODS

A 45-year-old male presented with an epithelial corneal ulcer 20 days following initial diagnosis of monkeypox from genital and perioral lesions. PCR analysis of the epithelium confirmed the presence of human monkeypox virus.

RESULTS

The patient was hospitalized, and ganciclovir gel, as well as povidone iodine 0.6% and moxifloxacin eyedrops were prescribed. Oral tecovirimat 600 mg was administered during 14 days. A therapeutic contact lens was used. Twenty days after the initial diagnosis of keratitis, the corneal defect closed leaving a faint subepithelial haze, and visual acuity was 0.8.

CONCLUSIONS

This is an uncommon case report of epithelial keratitis due to human monkeypox. PCR positivity for monkeypox in the corneal epithelium confirmed the presence of viral material in the cornea.