Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty to treat microsporidial stromal keratitis

Abstract

Purpose: To describe deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) as a surgical option to treat a case of severe microsporidial stromal keratitis in an immunocompetent patient.

Materials and methods: This study is a descriptive case report. A 42 year-old Pakistani woman had an 8-year history of symptoms in the left eye. She had been previously provisionally diagnosed as suspected herpes simplex keratitis or Thygeson keratitis. At presentation, her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 OD and 20/200 OS. Examination of the left cornea revealed irregular, central, deep stromal opacification with keratitic precipitates and occasional cells in the anterior chamber. Investigations for mycobacteria, syphilis, and a tetraplex test were normal; all other hematological/biochemistry/virology investigations were normal-she was not found to be immunocompromised.

Results: A corneal biopsy confirmed microsporidial infiltration of the stroma. After intensive medical treatment with topical fumagillin and oral albendazole without resolution, DALK was performed with total stromal replacement using the big-bubble technique. One year postoperatively, the graft remained clear with no evidence of recurrence and best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 OS.

Conclusions: Microsporidial stromal keratitis is rare. Conventional surgical treatment for such a condition has been penetrating keratoplasty. DALK may be considered an option for visual rehabilitation in these cases.