ORAL ITRACONAZOLE AND TOPICAL MICONAZOLE WITH DEBRIDEMENT FOR ACANTHAMOEBA KERATITIS

We treated three patients who had Acanthamoeba keratitis with oral itraconazole, a new antifungal agent, topical miconazole, and surgical debridement of the lesion. In these patients, healing and regression of the keratitis began six or seven days after initiation of oral itraconazole and miconazole 0.1% eyedrops (every hour during the day). The clinical signs of corneal infection disappeared after nine weeks in Patient 1, after five weeks in Patient 2, and after eight weeks in Patient 3. Visual acuities improved markedly from hand motions to 20/30 in Patient 1, from counting fingers to 20/16 in Patient 2, and from hand motions to 20/40 in Patient 3. In these patients, no systemic or topical signs of toxicity or adverse reactions were noted during the course of treatment.