Elevated corneal epithelial lines in Acanthamoeba keratitis
G. J. Florakis, R. Folberg, J. H. Krachmer, D. T. Tse, T. J. Roussel and M. P. Vrabec
Iowa Lions Cornea Center, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242.
Elevated corneal epithelial lines are another clinical sign in Acanthamoeba
corneal infection. In this report, one patient wore extended wear soft
contact lenses, and another wore daily wear soft contact lenses. Both
patients used distilled water and salt tablets in their lens care.
Histopathologic examination of these lines revealed trophozoites and cysts.
In one of the patients following penetrating keratoplasty, Acanthamoeba
castellani and Acanthamoeba polyphaga were cultured by impression cytology
of an epithelial line, as well as from the bulbar and tarsal conjunctiva.
In the other patient who did not undergo penetrating keratoplasty, these
lines appeared in the cornea one month after initial symptoms.
