[Acanthamoeba keratitis--a too seldom diagnosed disease?]

Abstract

Acanthamoeba keratitis has become a difficult diagnostic and management problem in contact lens patients over the last few years. A young female contact lens wearer presented with a long history of painful central corneal ulcer. The suspected diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis could only be confirmed by histology and electron microscopy following penetrating keratoplasty. Special stains of scrapings and culture of material on special media failed to establish the diagnosis. This rare (or underdiagnosed?) infection must be considered in the differential diagnosis of keratitis following contact lens wear.