Fungal invasion of seven hydrophilic contact lenses.

In six patients we reviewed the clinical, microbiologic, and histopathologic findings of seven hydrophilic contact lenses that had been infiltrated by fungi. Three patients had visual blurring or irritation and redness while wearing a contaminated lens; of these, two were unaware of any lens deposits. Three of the lenses from two patients were spares kept in storage for six months and one year, respectively. One contaminated lens had been torn and was kept in a case while a loaner lens was worn. Culture of this lens grew Cladosporium species. The contact lens case from one patient grew Penicillium species. Gross pathologic inspection disclosed multiple brown deposits in five lenses, multiple gray infiltrates in one lens, and a white infiltrate in one lens. Light microscopic examination disclosed partial-thickness (three lenses) or full-thickness (four lenses) invasion of the lens matrix by fungi, which contained granular, brown pigment in six lenses.