From Infection to Recovery: Fungal Ulcer Treatment with Natamycin

Abstract

Fungal corneal ulcers have a higher prevalence among people who work in agriculture and affect individuals of productive working age; therefore, they have a significant economic impact in developing countries. For this reason, an appropriate and rapid diagnosis and treatment are of utmost importance to promote the prevention of blindness caused by infectious diseases. For a fungal corneal ulcer to develop, there must be an abrasion of the normal ocular barrier. Any type of fungus can cause an eye infection; the most common are filamentous fungi and yeasts.

Clinical manifestations usually appear 1 to 3 days after the injury and are characterized by grayish-white infiltrates with a rough texture, irregular and feathery borders; the infection may extend into the stroma, present satellite infiltrates, and in some cases hypopyon, purulent discharge, anterior chamber inflammation, and microabscesses. The only antifungal approved for ocular use is natamycin; however, this medication is not available in Central America, despite having approximately 90% effectiveness for fungal ulcers. Thanks to donations from North American physicians, this drug was available, which made this research possible.