Acanthamoeba

Etiology: Acanthamoeba infection [9]

Characteristics

• Rare condition

• Primarily occurs in immunocompetent contact lens wearers

• Progressive course for several weeks despite an attempt of antibiotic treatment

Clinical features

• Severe pain

• Eye redness

• Photophobia

• Epiphora

• Decrease in vision

• Corneal ring infiltrate (late-stage) [10]

Diagnostics

• Slit-lamp examination and/or fluorescein staining: features of epithelitis and stromal disease

• Culture and microscopy of eye scraping

• Pathogen detection is often difficult.

Treatment

• Topical antiseptic (e.g., chlorhexidine) with propamidine

• Corneal transplantation for refractory cases