Prevalence of Fungal Keratitis (FK) in Patients with Corneal Ulcers in Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, 2011-2013

Background: The fungi include microorganisms which are inhabitant in our environment and sometimes their produced poisons can result in Keratitis and if this disease is not treated appropriately, then blindness will occur. In the present study, the most infectious fungal agents which caused corneal ulcer in patients who referred to Farabi Eye Hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences have been identified. Methods: The sample was taken by ophthalmologist and then analyzed for identification of any fungal pathogen in accordance with laboratory standards. Results: Most fungi obtained from these samples were related to the genera Fusarium (n=60, 49.59±2.96%), Aspergillus (n=32, 26.44±2.52%), Candida albicans (n=17, 14.05±2.32%) and other fungi (n=12, 9.92±3.16%), respectively. Fungal Keratitis (FK) was observed mostly in men (n=96, 79.34±0.52%). Whilst for women, FK rate was found to be (n= 25, 20.66±0.52%). Our results showed that in farmers and constructional workers, due to trauma there was seen an increased number of FK which resulted from hitting the plant organs and objects in eyes. Conclusion: It can be concluded that after corneal damage by these fungal agents, toxic metabolite is emerged and finally the human eye will be hurt.