USE OF ANTERIOR SEGMENT OPTICAL COHERENT TOMOGRAPHY IN FUNGAL KERATITIS IN COVID 19

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In India, the incidence of fungal keratitis ranges from 44% to 47%. Newer modalities are needed to improve detection and to monitor the disease in COVID 19 period AIM & OBJECTIVES: To assess the use of anterior segment optical coherent tomography tomography (AS-OCT) in fungal keratitis MATERIALS & METHODS: It is a cross-sectional study of 1 year duration with 52 KOH mount positive and fungal culture positive patients. A complete ophthalmic examination, including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, uorescent staining. Relevant investigations like corneal scraping sent for 10%KOH Mount and fungal cultures with Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar (SDA), ASOCT RESULTS: 52 KOH mount and fungal culture positive patients were included, with mean age of 50.88 years. 53.8% were farmers. The best corrected visual acuity was hand movements (32.7%). The KOH mount positive among the screened patients were 46.7%, of which 52 were culture positive. 26 patients had endothelial plaques and 16/26 were detected by AS-OCT that was statistically signicant. CONCLUSION: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography is a non invasive in detecting the endothelial plaque and monitor the inltrate size. Therefore, can be used as an adjunct in the management of fungal keratitis.