Basics of Fungal Keratitis

Symptoms of fungal keratitis include:

• Eye pain
• Eye redness
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Excessive tearing
• Eye discharge

If you experience any of these symptoms, remove your contact lenses (if you wear them) and call your eye doctor right away. Fungal keratitis is a very rare condition, but if left untreated, it can become serious and result in vision loss or blindness.

Fusarium and Aspergillus species live in the environment ². Candida species normally live on human skin and on the protective lining inside the body called the mucous membrane. Fungal keratitis is most common in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, but can also occur in areas of the world with milder temperatures ³. It cannot be spread from person to person.

The most common way that someone gets fungal keratitis is after experiencing trauma to the eye— especially trauma caused by a stick, thorn, or plant ^{1, 2}.

Risks for developing fungal keratitis include ²:

• Recent eye trauma, particularly involving plants (for example, thorns or sticks)
• Underlying eye disease
• Weakened immune system
• Contact lens use

In 2006, CDC investigated an outbreak of Fusarium keratitis that was associated with a specific type of contact lens solution, which was withdrawn from the market ^4-6.

Your eye doctor will examine your eye and may possibly take a tiny scraping of your cornea. The sample will be sent to a laboratory to be analyzed.

Fungal keratitis must be treated with prescription antifungal medicine for several months. Patients who do not get better after skin treatment and oral antifungal medications may require surgery, including corneal transplantation ².

Protective eyewear is recommended for people who are at risk for eye trauma involving plants, such as agricultural workers.

Follow these tips to keep your eyes healthy while wearing contact lenses. Your daily habits, your contact lenses and supplies, and your eye doctor are all important.