Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Malhotra S, Bhatia NJK, Saini V, Jain S and Duggal N
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, PGIMER, New Delhi, India
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Exp Ophthalmol
Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea and is often caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. In tropical countries, including India, keratitis is the most frequently encountered fungal infection, although the orbit, lids, lacrimal apparatus, sclera, conjunctiva and intra-ocular structures may also be involved. Fungal keratitis (also termed as keratomycosis, mycotic keratitis) is a fungal infection of the cornea. It primarily affects the corneal epithelium and stroma, although the endothelium and anterior chamber of the eye may get involved in more severe disease. The current study was performed to assess the prevalence of fungal keratitis from our center. Corneal scrapings were processed for fungal etiology from suspected patients of fungal keratitis over a period of two years. The isolation rate of different fungi was found to be 24% and Fusarium spp. was found to be the most common isolate. Fungal keratitis remains a diagnostic and therapeutic problem for ophthalmic clinicians because these fungal infections of the cornea frequently result in corneal melting, visual impairment and devastating ocular damage if they are not diagnosed early and treated promptly and effectively.
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