DIAGNOSIS
The diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis will start from your symptoms, your history, and thorough physical examination.
It is important to get an early diagnosis for Acanthamoeba keratitis for a successful treatment. This is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist, depending on your symptoms. It may include examining the development of ameba through scrapings from the eyes, and detecting the ameba through confocal microscopy.
Two conditions that are caused by Acanthamoeba are Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE) and disseminated infection. These two disorders are more challenging to diagnose and are frequently detected at the advanced phases.
Upon experiencing any of these symptoms, we recommend to seek your doctor immediately. This is to help you diagnose and treat your condition properly and avoid any complications.
TREATMENT
Acanthamoeba keratitis is hard to treat. However, an early diagnosis can help save one’s eye. Moreover, the treatment for this condition depends on its stage. If you’re in an early stage, treatment may include topical anti-infective agents. Meanwhile, surgical intervention is needed for the later stages.
Research shows that Acanthamoeba keratitis effectively treats a person with contact lenses by applying a six-month therapy of topical metronidazole, neomycin, miconazole, and prednisolone. Furthermore, most people wearing contact lenses should be cautious while cleaning up the lenses. They must not use saline or tap water to clean it.
