Topical ketoconazole for fungal keratitis

Six patients (five men and one woman, 19 to 57 years old) with laboratory-proven fungal corneal infections were successfully treated with topical ketoconazole, a synthetic imidazole derivative. No signs of progression of the corneal infection were seen after the antifungal therapy was initiated. The clinical signs of corneal infection disappeared after three (Aspergillus infections) to seven weeks (Fusarium infections) of ketoconazole therapy. In all cases, posttreatment visual acuities were better than pretreatment visual acuities. No significant biomicroscopic signs of ocular surface toxicity were noted.