Comparative Evaluation of Topical versus Intrastromal Voriconazole as an Adjunct to Natamycin in Recalcitrant Fungal Keratitis

Abstract

To compare the efficacy of topical voriconazole and topical natamycin with that of intrastromal voriconazole and topical natamycin in patients with recalcitrant fungal keratitis. Randomized clinical trial. Forty eyes of 40 patients with fungal keratitis (positive smear or culture results or both) larger than 2 mm, involving up to two thirds of the stromal depth, and not responding to topical natamycin therapy for 2 weeks were recruited. The patients were randomized to receive either topical 1% voriconazole therapy (n = 20) or intrastromal injections of voriconazole 50 μg/0.1 ml (n = 20). The patients in both groups continued topical natamycin 5% every 4 hours until the ulcer healed. Primary outcome measure was best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) 3 months after intervention, and secondary outcome measures were time to healing and the size of the scar. The patients in both groups had comparable baseline parameters. The mean BSCVA after treatment was 1.295 ± 0.5 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units in the topical group and 1.692 ± 0.29 logMAR units in the intrastromal group. The visual acuity after treatment was significantly better in the topical voriconazole group (P = 0.008). Nineteen patients receiving topical voriconazole and 16 patients who were given intrastromal voriconazole healed with therapy. Topical voriconazole seems to be a useful adjunct to natamycin in fungal keratitis not responding to topical natamycin. Intrastromal injections did not offer any beneficial effect over topical therapy.