REFRACTORY KERATITIS IN HOT CLIMATE

Abstract

This article presents patients with unilateral painful red eye refractory to
recommended standard treatment regimes in which staining, culture and sensitivity reports were inconclusive. On
ocular examination hazy cornea with central corneal abscess was common in all cases. Corneal biopsy was reserved
for cases with inconclusive laboratory reports as well as poor response to standard treatment regime. The former
revealed fungal hyphae in all cases. Patients mentioned had general predisposition e.g. diabetes mellitus, hot climate
(Multan) as well as predisposing factors such as contact lenses, dry eye syndrome, poor ocular hygiene, agricultural
background were more prone to fungal keratitis, hence better diagnosed and confirmed early by contemplating corneal
biopsy.