Confocal microscopy for the diagnostics of fungal keratitis

Fungal keratitis is a rare but very serious eye disease in industrial nations with a frequency of 1-5 % of all forms of keratitis from microbial causes. We present two patients with keratitis of primary unknown cause. Using confocal microscopy fungal filaments could be identified that partially showed a parallel configuration (like "railway tracks"). Thus, the correct diagnosis can often be made and suitable therapy can be non-invasively initiated even before the results of in vitro cultivation (fungal culture), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histological investigations are available.