RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 In vivo confocal microscopy in fungal keratitis
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 588
OP 591
DO 10.1136/bjo.2006.107243
VO 91
IS 5
A1 Emmanuelle Brasnu
A1 Tristan Bourcier
A1 Bénédicte Dupas
A1 Sandrine Degorge
A1 Thibault Rodallec
A1 Laurent Laroche
A1 Vincent Borderie
A1 Christophe Baudouin
YR 2007
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/91/5/588.abstract
AB Background: Fungal keratitis is a major blinding eye disease found throughout the world, particularly in developing countries. Given the recent increase in Fusarium keratitis infections in contact lens wearers owing to contact lens solutions, a warning was recently issued by the Food and Drug Administration, making it a public health concern in developed countries. Objective: To show the advantages of in vivo confocal microscopy imaging using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II-Rostock Cornea Module (HRTII-RCM) in the early diagnosis of fungal keratitis. Methods: HRTII-RCM confocal microscopy was performed on five patients presenting with fungal keratitis and on three donor corneas contaminated with Fusarium solani, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. Results: Direct microscopic evaluation of corneal smears and culture revealed the presence of F solani in four cases and C albicans in one case. HRTII-RCM examination of the infected patients and contaminated donor corneas revealed numerous high-contrast elements resembling Fusarium, Aspergillus hyphae or Candida pseudofilaments in the anterior stroma. Conclusion: HRTII-RCM in vivo confocal microscopy is a new, non-invasive and rapid technique for the early diagnosis of fungal keratitis, showing high-resolution images resembling fungal structures in the early phase of the disease.