Retained Aspergillus-contaminated contact lens inducing conjunctival mass and keratoconjunctivitis in an immunocompetent patient.

PURPOSE: A 66-year-old woman presented with a 1-month history of prominent mucoid discharge and foreign body sensation in her left eye.

METHODS

Ocular evaluation revealed a moderately severe superficial punctate keratitis involving the temporal half of the left cornea. The superior tarsal conjunctiva showed marked papillary reaction with an area of indentation temporally. A mass was present in the superior temporal aspect of the fornix, clinically resembling a pyogenic granuloma. At the posterior aspect of this mass and covered by mucoid material, was a soft contact lens.

RESULTS

Upon removal of the lens, without any additional therapy, the patient became asymptomatic and totally resolved her keratitis and mass lesion. Cultural identification of the soft contact lens was positive for Aspergillus fumigatus.

CONCLUSIONS

We hypothesize that the mucoid discharge and mass lesion represented a mechanism similar to allergic fungal sinusitis.