NON-ACANTHAMOEBA AMEBIC KERATITIS

Purpose. To describe the clinical presentation and outcome of two case s with presumed non-Acanthamoeba amebic keratitis. Methods, Case repor ts. Results. Both patients presented with typical symptoms and signs o f Acanthamoeba keratitis. The patients' soft contact lenses, lens case s, open solutions, and conjunctival samples were cultured. Diagnosis o f non-Acanthamoeba amebic keratitis was based on the presence of kerat itis and amebic growth from patients' contact lenses of the affected e yes. Amebic culture from the contralateral contact lens was negative. Vahlkampfia cysts were identified in case 1, and Naegleria cysts in ca se 2. Topical treatment with poly-hexamethylene biguanide and propamid ine resolved the keratitis in case 1. Case 2 was lost to follow-up. Co nclusion, Non-Acanthamoeba amebic keratitis was diagnosed in two patie nts based on the clinical presentation (resembIing Acanthamoeba kerati tis), culture of the contact lens, and response to antiamebic treatmen t (in one case). Keratitis associated with Naegleria contamination of contact lenses has not been previously reported.