Clinical characteristics and outcome of Candida keratitis.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To characterize the clinical features and therapeutic outcome of Candida keratitis. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series. METHODS: We reviewed 26 patients treated for Candida keratitis, including two with recurrent keratitis and one with bilateral infection. RESULTS: Of 29 keratitis episodes resulting from Candida albicans (n = 20) or Candida parapsilosis (n = 9), 16 (55%) complicated chronic ocular surface disease, and nine (31%) followed previous keratoplasty. Only two were clinically suspected to have keratomycosis at initial presentation, and 21 (72%) used antibacterial therapy before corneal scrapings. Reconstructive keratoplasty occurred more often in previously grafted eyes (P = .03). Visual outcome was 20/60 or better in six (100%) medically treated eyes with good presenting visual acuity but in only five eyes (24%) with worse initial vision (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Candida keratitis is an opportunistic infection of a compromised cornea that often is misdiagnosed initially and, despite antifungal therapy, occasionally requires corneal grafting.