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Argon laser phototherapy in the treatment of refractory fungal keratitis
Fernando Pellegrino1, María Alejandra Carrasco
1Department of Ophthalmology, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Purpose:
To report the beneficial properties of argon laser as an adjunctive therapy in 2 patients with refractory fungal keratitis.
Methods:
Case reports and a review of the literature. Two cases of Fusarium keratitis refractory to topical and systemic antifungals were further treated with argon laser. Before laser treatment, the eye was medicated with proparacaine 0.5%, lidocaine 4%, and a single drop of fluorescein sodium 0.25%. Argon laser irradiation of the affected cornea was performed using argon blue-green wavelength (Coherent Ultima 2000; Coherent, Inc). A spot size of 500 μm, pulse duration of 0.10 seconds, and power ranging from 500 to 900 mW were used.
Results:
During the first week after laser treatment, both patients showed complete resolution of the infiltrates. Two signs were observed during the procedure: a blanching of the corneal stroma and small cavitations that reached the middle stroma. No adverse effects were observed.
Conclusions:
Argon laser phototherapy is useful as an adjunctive treatment of refractory fungal keratitis. More cases are needed to validate our findings.
