Case report: acanthamobea keratitis presenting as herpetic keratitis in a contact lens wearer

The aim of this article is to present a concise review of the literature regarding acanthamoeba keratitis by exploring the pathophysiology, diagnosis, examinations and management strategies of this ocular condition. Acanthamoeba keratitis is a sight-threatening condition which progress rapidly if left untreated and is a real emergency that requires immediate and intensive assessment and treatment. As there is a potential increase in the number of cases of acanthamoeba keratitis among young contact lens wearers and the possibility to confuse the symptoms of acanthamoeba keratitis with those of other corneal diseases, there is a need to understand the pathophysiology of the acanthamoeba. This article will stress the necessity and create awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of acanthamoeba keratitis. The main focus is contact len-related acanthamoeba keratitis where the author will present two cases that attended the eye emergency department where they were diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis. This article will also send a message to all healthcare practitioners to suspect acanthamoeba keratitis in those patients with contact lenses and severe microbial keratitis or herpes simplex keratitis.