Acanthamoeba

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but potentially vision-threatening corneal infection that primarily affects contact lens wearers. The risk increases when lens hygiene practices are inadequate or when lenses are exposed to water during use, cleaning, or storage.

Clinical presentation often overlaps with other forms of infectious keratitis, with symptoms including severe ocular pain, redness, blurred vision, photophobia, and excessive tearing. This lack of specificity can delay accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, potentially leading to prolonged disease progression and poorer visual outcomes.

Conventional diagnostic approaches may rely on microscopy, culture, or specialist expertise, which can be time-consuming and may not always provide timely results. In this context, molecular testing can offer rapid and specific pathogen detection, supporting clinical decision-making when suspicion of Acanthamoeba infection remains high.