[Experimental studies of local therapy of Candida keratomycosis with amphotericin B]

The efficiency of Amphotericin B drops was studied using a newly developed keratomycosis model (defined strain Candida albicans DSM 70010, which leads reproducibly to a corneal infection with descemetocele without prior local or systemic immunosuppression in the rabbit). Penetration of the drug (administered ten times a day) into the cornea and aqueous humor was only demonstrated after abrasion of the corneal epithelium. Three groups were studied: (I) therapy with abrasion, (II) therapy without abrasion, and (III) a control group. Both clinically (descemetocele or perforation, hypopyon) and with regard to microbiology (reculture of Candida) the results obtained in Group I were significantly better than those obtained in Group II (p less than 0.001). Repeated corneal abrasion is therefore recommended for treatment of Candida keratitis with Amphotericin B.