Colonization of therapeutic contact lens by dematiaceous fungi.

PURPOSE: To report 2 patients with colonization of therapeutic contact lens with dematiaceous fungi.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

The first patient had a retained soft contact lens on an opaque cornea for 4 years with brownish black multiple colonies on the soft contact lens and culture grew Bipolaris spp. The second patient was on therapeutic contact lens for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy for 4 months and developed a brownish colonization of contact lens with unidentified dematiaceous fungi. Both the patients had conjunctivitis but did not develop fungal keratitis.

CONCLUSION

Judicious use of therapeutic contact lens is required in agrarian countries with adequate emphasis on strict adherence to the standard protocols and frequent replacement of the lens.