Mycotic keratitis in non-steroid exposed vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Purpose: To report a patient with vernal keratoconjunctivitis who developed mycotic keratitis in absence of known risk factors. Methods: A 17-year-old male suffering from vernal keratoconjunctivitis pres ented with infective keratitis. The patient had been treated in the past wi th topical antihistaminics and vasoconstrictors. The patient had not been e xposed to topical steroids in 2 years of follow-up. He did not have dry eye or corneal micro or macroerosions prior to the development of infective ke ratitis. Corneal scrapings were obtained and subjected to KOH wet mount sme ar, calcofluor and Grams stain as well as bacterial culture sensitivity and fungal culture. Results: Clinical diagnosis of mycotic keratitis in association with vernal conjunctivitis was supported by microbiological investigations. KOH wet mo unt and calcofluor staining showed presence of filamentous septate hyphae w hile fungal culture showed growth of aspergillus fumigatus. Antifungal ther apy was initiated in the form of topical natamycin 5% suspension to which t he patient responded and recovered 6/6 final visual acuity. Conclusion: The authors wish to conclude that patients suffering from verna l keratoconjunctivitis, even in the absence of corneal involvement, steroid exposure and trauma, may be at increased risk of developing keratomycosis.