Mycotic keratitis in non-steroid exposed vernal keratoconjunctivitis

To report a patient with vernal keratoconjunctivitis who developed mycotic keratitis in absence of known risk factors.

A 17-year-old male suffering from vernal keratoconjunctivitis presented with infective keratitis. The patient had been treated in the past with topical antihistaminics and vasoconstrictors. The patient had not been exposed to topical steroids in 2 years of follow-up. He did not have dry eye or corneal micro or macroerosions prior to the development of infective keratitis. Corneal scrapings were obtained and subjected to KOH wet mount smear, calcofluor and Grams stain as well as bacterial culture sensitivity and fungal culture.

Clinical diagnosis of mycotic keratitis in association with vernal conjunctivitis was supported by microbiological investigations. KOH wet mount and calcofluor staining showed presence of filamentous septate hyphae while fungal culture showed growth of aspergillus fumigatus. Antifungal therapy was initiated in the form of topical natamycin 5% suspension to which the patient responded and recovered 6/6 final visual acuity.

The authors wish to conclude that patients suffering from vernal keratoconjunctivitis, even in the absence of corneal involvement, steroid exposure and trauma, may be at increased risk of developing keratomycosis.