What is Fusarium Keratitis?
Fusarium Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea, the clear membrane that covers the colored part of the eye (iris) and pupil of the eye. It is caused by Fusarium which is a large genus of filamentous fungi widely distributed in soil and in association with plants. The higher incidence of fusarium keratitis among normal contact lens wearers is a new finding.
General Symptoms:
Symptoms of Fusarium keratitis include eye pain, foreign body sensation, redness, tearing, discharge, or light sensitivity. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should return to your optometrist immediately.
Prevention:
Adults and children who wear contact lenses should on a regular basis use sterile lens-cleaning and disinfecting solutions. Tap water is not sterile and should not be used to clean contact lenses. It is important to go for follow-up checkups because small defects in the cornea can occur without the patient being aware of it. Do not overwear contact lenses. Remove them if the eyes become red or irritated. Replace contact lenses when scheduled to do so. Proteins and other things can deposit on the contacts, leading to an increased risk of infection. Rinse contact lens cases in hot water every night, if possible, and let them air dry. Replace contact lens cases every three months. Organisms have been cultured from contact lens cases.
How to treat Fusarium Keratitis
Clinically, it is often difficult to differentiate between fungal and bacterial infections. Confirmation may be obtained by your doctor through corneal culture, corneal tissue biopsy or confocal microscopy. Laboratory results take time to get back, so your doctor may place you on antibiotics pending results. Should fungal treatment be warranted, topical or oral anti-fungal agents may be used. In some cases, surgical intervention is necessary.
However the standard treatment of Fusarium fungal keratitis is frequent use of Natamycin 5% drops, often used every hour around the clock initially. A cycloplegic drop, e.g., scopolamine 0.25%, is also usually used to decrease the inflammation inside the eye. Occasionally, oral antifungal medications, e.g., itraconazole, fluconazole or voriconazole are also used. An urgent corneal transplant may be required in deep infections with impending or frank perforations.
Filed under Contact Lens, Eye Diseases, Eye Treatment, Fusarium Keratitis | Tags: eye, Keratitis | Comment Below
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Fusarium Keratitis, Corneal Infection, Spreading in USA & WorldwideJune 13th, 2006 Dangerous fungal eye infection 'Fusarium Keratitis', that sparked the May 15 market recall of Bausch & Lomb's ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution may be more widespread than previously thought, researchers report. This infection, called Fusarium keratitis, involves a swelling and inflammation of the cornea that can be harmful to the structure of the eye and the patient's vision.
Basuch & Lomb (Fusarium Keratitis Fiasco) Was Cited in 2002 for Quality Control ProblemsApril 19th, 2006 Basuch & Lomb, at the center of a probe into several cases of eye fungal infection due to fusarium keratitis, was cited by the federal Food and Drug Administration for quality-control problems in 2002. During inspections in May and June 2002 at Bausch & Lomb’s Greenville, S.C., plant, the FDA discovered paint chips in rooms where containers of eye care products were filled.
Eye Infection (Fusarium Keratitis) Victim Recalls Horror Story To FDAJune 21st, 2008 Sheila Kinsey underwent seven corneal transplants after contracting a devastating eye infection. It was her story that encouraged a panel of FDA consultants on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 to recommend to the Agency for strength testing and labeling requirements for contact lens disinfectant solutions.
Free Laser Corneal Transplantation for Patients Suffering from Vision Loss Due to Fusarium KeratitisAugust 29th, 2006 IntraLase Corp. (Nasdaq:ILSE) announced today that patients requiring corneal transplant surgery resulting from the recentoutbreak of Fusarium Keratitis eye infection can take advantage of the benefits of corneal transplantation with the advanced IntraLase(R) FSLaser free of charge.
Fusarium Keratitis, Fungal Eye Infection - Outbreak in San FranciscoJune 21st, 2006 A cluster of 4 cases of soft contact lens–associated Fusarium keratitis seen at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), during a 5-week span in early 2006 and compare this cluster with the number of previous cases of culture-positive Fusarium keratitis seen at UCSF during the prior 30 years. This cluster represents part of a larger outbreak of Fusarium keratitis currently under investigation by public health authorities in Singapore1 and the United States.2 As in these outbreaks under investigation, soft contact lens wear and use of ReNu with MoistureLoc or ReNu MultiPlus (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) contact lens solution was a common feature of these cases.
National Eye Institute Awards $2.4 Million Grant For Corneal Infection (Keratitis) ResearchApril 14th, 2008 Researchers from University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have been awarded a $2.4 million grant over five years from the National Eye Institute (NEI) to study corneal infection (keratitis) brought on by disease-causing fungi that can be lurking on contact lenses, in the air, in the dirt, or even in common household surfaces. Contact lens users are often susceptible to various corneal infections like, for example, fusarium keratitis in not so recent past.
Fusarium Keratitis Fungal Infection - ReNu Contact Lens Solution Link Confirmed By Bausch and LombMay 5th, 2006 Bausch
High temperatures may cause Fusarium keratitis epidemicNovember 14th, 2008 Archives of Ophthalmology study finds improper temperature control of ReNu with MoistureLoc may lead to the 2004-2006 Fusarium keratitis epidemic. The researchers found that ReNu with MoistureLoc showed the greatest decline in fungistatic activity while Clear Care and ReNu MultiPlus showed the least decline.
