CYTOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS OF ACANTHAMOEBA-KERATITIS - REPORT OF A CASE WITHCORRELATIVE STUDY WITH INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE AND SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

We describe a case of Acanthamoeba keratitis in a 20-year-old woman wh o wore disposable soft contact lenses. The diagnosis was made initiall y on the basis of a periodic acid-Schiff-stained corneal smear and sub sequently confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and immunofluoresc ence. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of 0.053 % polyhexamethylene biguanide and miconazole. Cytologic study and cult ure of corneal scrapings is relatively painless and inexpensive and ma y therefore be used for successful diagnosis and follow-up.