Bilateral Acanthamoeba keratitis in a gas-permeable contact lens wearer.
Acanthamoeba keratitis is an uncommon but potentially devastating complication of contact lens wear that has been reported with increasing frequency since its first description in 1974. We describe a case of bilateral Acanthamoeba keratitis, which occurred in a 24-year-old man, wearing gas-permeable contact lenses. This is to our knowledge the first case of Acanthamoeba keratitis reported in Italy, and the fourth bilateral case reported in the literature. Medical therapy (carried out after the first week by a different institution, due to the absence of essential antiamebic drugs on the Italian market) was effective in stopping the progression of the disease.
University Eye Clinic, Diagnostic Laboratory, Torrette Regional Hospital, Italy.
A
A
Giovannini
R
R
Tittarelli
E
E
Bertelli
G B
GB
Frongia
C
C
Mariotti
E
E
Manso
F
F
Biavasco
D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003315:Cornea / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents