DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjmcr.2026.v14i06.044

Pages: 1500-1502

Acanthamoeba are free-living protozoa parasite found in fresh water, well water, brackish water, and soil1. These protozoa have been increasingly recognized as a worldwide cause of painful keratitis associated with contact lens use, although trauma to eye followed by washing with contaminated water has been implicated leading to loss of vision in untreated cases2. This case reports a 46-year male patient farmer by occupation presenting to ophthalmology OPD with complaints of pain, redness and diminution of vision since 20 days in the left eye which was gradual in onset and progression. He gave a history of foreign body contact with subsequent eye wash with water from a nearby source. Corneal scrapings were sent for culture, saline and KOH mount. Wet mount showed motile trophozoite forms along with occasional double walled cyst forms. Trophozoite forms of Acanthamoeba were also demonstrated from Non nutrient agar culture plates lawned with E coli (ATCC 25922). Appropriate treatment was initiated for 8 weeks post diagnosis and followed up weekly. Patient showed improvement and gain in vision after the treatment. Acanthamoeba keratitis is a growing clinical problem in developed as well as developing countries. Use of contact lens is the single most important factor in the development of the disease in developed countries. Contact lens wearing, fall of dust particles, trauma due to vegetable matter, contact with contaminated water etc. have been found to be predominant risk factors of AK in developing countries3.