Abid Naseem, Abid Nawaz, Sanaullah Jan, Shad Muhammad.
Fungal Keratitis: A two years Retrospective Study.
Pak J Ophthalmol Jan ;17(4):129-33.

Purpose: The management of fungal Keratitis presents serious problems. The aim of our study was to review the clinical experience with fungal keratitis. Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of patients admitted for fungal keratitis from January 1999 through December 2000, in Ophthalmology unit of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar was undertaken. Results: Out of 64 cases of fungal Keratitis admitted during the study period, 50 (78.1%) were male whereas 14(21.9%) were female. The mean age was 42.5 years, the youngest patient was 5 year old while the oldest was aged 65 years. 35(54.7%) cases had history of trauma with organic matter, 9(14%) patients had used topical steroids, 27(42.2%) cases had positive corneal scrapings for fungal hyphae/spores. 40(62.5%) patients healed with medical treatment, while 19(29.7%) cases required conjunctival flap and 5(7.8) cases ended up with evisceration. As for visual outcome, 8(12.5%) patients had visual acuity between 6/6-6/12, 12(18.8%) cases had visual acuity between 6/18-6/36, 29(45.3%) patients had visual acuity between 6160 and counting finger and 15(23.4%) cases had visual acuity between hand movement to no perception of light. Regarding stay in hospital patients of fungal ulcer had an average stay of 19 days. Conclusions: Fungal keratitis is more common in men of working age group (20 years & above). Trauma with organic matter is the most commonly associated risk factor. The mainstay of treatment is medical therapy. Fungal keratitis necessitates a long stay in hospital, high cost of treatment and has a poor visual outcome.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com