[Acanthamoeba keratitis: diagnosis to consider].

BACKGROUND

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but severe disease that can cause blindness. The objective of this study is to call attention to its severity and conditions of development and to emphasize the importance of early treatment.

METHODS

We report a case of a 27-year-old woman. After wearing soft contact lenses for a month, she consulted for redness, pain and poor visual acuity in her left eye. The ophthalmological examination showed an epithelial corneal abscess measuring 2 mm in diameter in the left eye and very tiny epithelial corneal abscesses in the right eye. Microscopic examination and culture of samples from the contact lenses and the contact lens solution found Acanthamoeba spp. Rapid anti-amoeba treatment led to disappearance of the corneal abscesses and improvement of her vision.

CONCLUSIONS

This case confirmed that the prognosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis depends on rapid diagnosis and early treatment.