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Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Ocular Fungal Infections

Kiyofumi Mochizuki1, Masayuki Inuzuka1, Taishi Miyase1

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine.

Medical Mycology Journal
|May 31, 2026
PubMed

Insights

This review covers fungal eye infections, focusing on rare causes of keratitis and endophthalmitis. Early diagnosis and targeted antifungal treatment are crucial for preventing vision loss from these challenging infections.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Ocular fungal infections, including keratitis and endophthalmitis, pose significant threats to vision.
  • Uncommon fungal pathogens present unique clinical challenges compared to more frequent causes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on clinical features, diagnosis, and management of ocular infections caused by uncommon fungal pathogens.
  • To highlight the importance of early recognition and appropriate treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of studies on fungal keratitis and endophthalmitis.
  • Emphasis on clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods (microscopy, culture, molecular techniques), and therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

  • Filamentous fungi (e.g., Fusarium, Aspergillus) often cause aggressive disease.
  • Candida species typically affect patients with pre-existing ocular or systemic risk factors.
  • Diagnosis relies on a combination of traditional and molecular methods.
  • Antifungal therapy is the mainstay of treatment, with surgery reserved for severe cases.

Conclusions:

  • Fungal keratitis and endophthalmitis caused by uncommon pathogens remain significant causes of visual morbidity.
  • Advances in diagnostics and therapeutics are ongoing, but early detection and prompt, targeted treatment are essential.
  • Further research into novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies is warranted.
Keywords:
antifungal therapyfungal endophthalmitisfungal keratitisscreening fundus examination

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