[Anti-infective drug therapy in ophthalmology--part 4: acanthamoeba keratitis]

Abstract

An early diagnosis of an acanthamoeba keratitis can usually be made on the basis of the patient's history and slit-lamp examination. Further helpful diagnostic steps are confocal microscopy, microbiological, and histopathological examination. In the early stages topical application of antimicrobials (combined application of aminoglycosides, polyhexamethylene biguanide 0.02 %, propamidine isoethionate 0.1 %) is effective. In the late stages a penetrating keratoplasty is often necessary.