[Experimental study of the effectiveness of terbinafine in the treatment of fungal keratitis]. / Eksperimental'noe izuchenie effektivnosti terbinafina v lechenii gribkovykh keratitov.

Methods of treatment of fungal keratitis in the Russian Federation currently consist of non-standardized off-label methods due to the lack of licensed commercial antifungal solutions designed for use in ophthalmology. The article presents the results of successful treatment of fungal keratitis in experimental animals with a terbinafine solution, with effectiveness comparable to voriconazole lyophilizate diluted to 1%. PURPOSE: The study analyzed the effectiveness of terbinafine solution in the experimental treatment of fungal keratitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on Soviet chinchilla rabbits with signs of keratomycosis modeled during the experiment. Fifteen experimental animals were randomly divided into three comparison groups: group 1 received treatment with 1% voriconazole, group 2 - 0.1% terbinafine, group 3 did not receive treatment. RESULTS: Groups of rabbits treated with voriconazole and terbinafine showed comparable positive treatment results, but in the terbinafine group epithelization was completed earlier, and complete sanitation of the fungal microflora was achieved on day 3. CONCLUSION: One important advantage of 0.1% terbinafine suspension lies in availability of a local form designed for ophthalmological application. The advantage of local 0.1% terbinafine suspension is supported by the combination of signs and results, and the obtained data may be used for introducing it into practice after further clinical trials.

[Epidemiology and treatment of fungal keratitis]. / Epidemiologiya i metody lecheniya gribkovykh keratitov.

Infectious keratitis in most cases is caused by bacterial, viral or fungal agents, but their structure is changing. Some researchers have noted a substantial increase in fungal corneal lesions in recent decades, but important local etiological therapy remains unavailable in developing countries. While bacterial keratitis and ophthalmoherpes are controlled by widely available local etiotropic therapy, treatment of keratomycosis in the Russian Federation is carried out with off-label medicine. Lack of skills and availability of diagnostic methods and official etiotropic therapy creates unequal conditions for ophthalmology specialists in the fight against ophthalmomycosis. In part, this causes a reduced level of «myco-caution¼, which leads to long-term ineffective treatment using antibacterial drops, lasting suffering of patients, and results in the loss of the eye functionally and - in some cases - anatomically. Therefore, the study of fungal keratitis remains relevant. The article provides an overview of research data on current epidemiology in different regions of the world, analyzes available antifungal drugs and the prospects for development of affordable and effective treatment of fungal keratitis.