Acanthamoeba Keratitis
What is Acanthamoeba Keratitis ?
Acanthanicha is a free-living, single-celled organism.
It is found in soil, air, freshwater, seawater, humidifiers, Air conditioners, etc.
They feed on bacteria & fungi so are widespread everywhere.
Acanthamoeba can cause keratitis (infection of the cornea) and encephalitis (infection of the brain).
What are the causes for keratitis?
– Contact lens wearers are the most common
– trauma to the cornea
– contamination with tap water or Abel.
– Poor hygiene.
– Overweening of contact lens
– Swimming, bathing, sleeping with lenses
– Cleaning Contact lens with tap water or multipurpose solutions
How to avoid ?
– Stringert contact lens hygiene
– Adhering to the Manufacturer’s recommendation
– Need to report at Easiest of any symptom
Clinical features-
– Pain, redness, sensitivity to light.
– Decreased vision
– Watering & foreign body sensation.
– Over Weeks, a ring infiltrate is formed in the Cornea.
Diagnosis & Signs ?
– Early disease can be mistaken for viral keratitis.
– Late disease can be mistaken for bacterial or fungal keratitis.
– Careful clinical Examination for the pathognomonic ring & Scraping & testing in the lab confirm the diagnosis.
– Infiltrates around corneal nerves and in Superficial layers seen in Early Disease (<1 month).
– Ulcer, inflammation inside the eye, hypopyon (pus inside eye and swelling of the cornea seen in late disease.
Complications -
– End-stage untreated disease can cause corneal melt and perforation.
– Secondary Glaucoma, cataract, Damage to the iris.
Treatment -
– Biguanide used topically acts against both active and cystic forms of amoeba effectively.
– Topical Voricanazole .
– PACK-CXL (Photoactivated chromophore for keratitis-corneal cross-linking).
– Use of Riboflavin or rose-bengal followed by Corneal cross-linking is an effective treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) -
The cause of Acanthamoeba keratitis is infection with Acanthamoeba, a microscopic organism found in water and soil. This infection typically occurs when the amoeba comes into contact with the cornea, often due to improper contact lens hygiene, swimming or showering with contact lenses, or using contaminated water for lens cleaning. we suggest you contact us for more details.
Acanthamoeba enters the eye primarily through contact lens use, especially if lenses are not properly cleaned, disinfected, or stored. The amoeba can adhere to the surface of contact lenses and transfer to the eye during insertion or removal, leading to infection. we suggest you contact us for more details.
Acanthamoeba keratitis can be challenging to treat, but it is not incurable. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential for successful management. Treatment typically involves antifungal and antiamoebic medications, along with aggressive eye care practices such as frequent lubrication and corneal debridement. we suggest you contact us for more details.
Acanthamoeba can be transmitted through various routes, including contaminated water sources such as tap water, swimming pools, hot tubs, and soil. Contact lens wearers are particularly at risk if they use water for cleaning or storing lenses, or if they swim or shower while wearing lenses. we suggest you contact us for more details.
The treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis involves a combination of antifungal and anti-amoebic medications, often administered topically as eye drops or ointments. In severe cases, oral medications or even surgical intervention may be necessary to remove infected tissue or improve medication penetration. we suggest you contact us for more details.
Acanthamoeba keratitis is diagnosed through a series of tests, including microscopic examination of corneal scrapings or contact lens solutions, culturing samples to identify the presence of Acanthamoeba, and performing corneal imaging techniques such as confocal microscopy or optical coherence tomography (OCT) to visualize corneal changes associated with the infection. Early diagnosis is crucial for initiating appropriate treatment and preventing vision loss. we suggest you contact us for more details.