Intracameral voriconazole for severe fungal keratitis: a case series

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to report the use, efficacy, and safety of intracameral voriconazole as an adjuvant treatment for deep fungal keratitis.

Methods: This was a prospective case series of seven eyes with fungal keratitis with anterior chamber involvement or a corneal ulcer refractory to conventional topical treatment. In addition to topical treatment with 0.15% amphotericin B eye drops, voriconazole 50 μg/ 0.1 mL was administered to the anterior chamber of each affected eye up to four times within 72 h. The primary outcome measures were healing (fungal eradication) and the need for therapeutic keratoplasty. Best-corrected visual acuity was a secondary outcome measure.

Results: Three cases were confirmed by confocal microscopy, and four were diagnosed from positive culture tests. At presentation, one patient had a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/80, while all others had hand motion or worse. Four cases received one intracameral injection, two cases received three, and one case received four injections. There were no complications after any of the intracameral voriconazole injections. Four patients had imminent corneal perforations and were treated with cyanoacrylate adhesive and bandage contact lenses. Four patients recovered from the infection, and three underwent therapeutic keratoplasty. The final best-corrected visual acuity was improved in two cases but all patients had a final visual acuity of counting fingers or worse.

Conclusion: As an adjuvant treatment for deep fungal keratitis, intracameral voriconazole injection is a feasible option. Although fungal eradication was achieved in all patients, three required therapeutic keratoplasty and all patients had unsatisfactory visual acuity outcomes.