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Photodynamic Therapy for Infectious Keratitis

  • Regenerative Medicine in Ophthalmology (D Myung, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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ABSTRACT

Purpose of Review

Due to the invasive nature of the keratoplasty and the shortage of available donor tissue around the world, alternative treatments are needed for the management of progressive infectious keratitis.

Recent Findings

Infectious keratitis is a sight-threatening microbial infection. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in cases of infectious keratitis has increased the demand for fortified compounded antimicrobial drops. Even with proper medical management, severe cases of infectious keratitis can further evolve into corneal perforation, requiring surgical intervention in the form of keratoplasty to control the infectious process. In ophthalmology, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used for numerous applications.

Summary

PDT with Rose Bengal as a photosensitizer combined with green light optical irradiation (RB-PDAT) is a novel treatment with dual purpose: to arrest the infection from progressing and strengthen the collagen of the cornea. RB-PDAT may be considered as an adjunct therapy in severe cases of infectious keratitis to minimize the need for a therapeutic keratoplasty.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, McKnight Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 900 NW 17th St, Suite 340C, Miami, FL, 3313, USA

    Diego Altamirano, Jaime Martinez, Jean Marie Parel & Guillermo Amescua

  2. Ocular Microbiology Laboratory, McKnight Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Katherine D. Leviste

  3. Ophthalmic Biophysics Center, McKnight Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Jean Marie Parel

Authors
  1. Diego Altamirano
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  2. Jaime Martinez
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  3. Katherine D. Leviste
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  4. Jean Marie Parel
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  5. Guillermo Amescua
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guillermo Amescua.

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Conflict of Interest

Jean Marie Parel and Guillermo Amescua are authors of a University of Miami invention disclosure on the instrument described herein. Diego Altamirano, Jaime Martinez, and Katherine D Leviste each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).

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Altamirano, D., Martinez, J., Leviste, K.D. et al. Photodynamic Therapy for Infectious Keratitis. Curr Ophthalmol Rep 8, 245–251 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40135-020-00252-y

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