ABSTRACT
Keratitis is caused by microbes mainly bacteria, fungi and Acanthamoeba. Patients with keratitis need prompt diagnosis and treatment since the prognosis is poor. Diagnosis of ocular fungal infection requires the cooperative efforts of the eye disease specialist and the clinical microbiologist. Direct microscopy of cornea scrapes and the visualization of the fungal elements are the primary steps of the diagnosis. Corneal infections with yeasts, primarily with Candida species, are common in developed countries, whereas filamentous moulds including Fusarium and Aspergillus are associated with hot, humid climates mainly in the developing countries. There is only one study about the serological markers of fungal keratitis. (1,3)-ß-D-glucan in the tears of patients with mycotic keratitis was measured and found to be significantly increased in concentration as compared with those with bacterial corneal ulcer and with the controls. Mycotic keratitis requires careful clinical management and advanced microbiological approach since the cases generally present poor prognosis.
