Microbiological and histopathological confirmation of acanthamebic keratitis

A healthy 42 yr-old woman presented with a left keratitis which she had had for 3 months. No organisms could be grown by culture of corneal scrapings for bacteria and fungi, and the condition failed to respond to topical therapy. Amebic keratitis was diagnosed following corneal biopsy and cultures which grew Acanthamoeba of a species similar to, but not identical with, Acanthamoeba polyphaga. Medical treatment was continued for 6 mth. During this time the corneal infiltrate became less prominent but visual acuity remained impaired by both corneal opacity and cataract.