Comparison of Oral Voriconazole Versus Oral Ketoconazole as an Adjunct to Topical Natamycin in Severe Fungal Keratitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of oral voriconazole (VCZ) with oral ketoconazole (KCZ) as an adjunct to topical natamycin in severe fungal keratitis.

METHODS

Fifty eyes of 50 patients with proven severe fungal keratitis, (>5 mm size, involving >4 mm central cornea and >50% stromal depth), smear, and/or culture positive were randomized to receive either oral VCZ (n = 25) or oral KCZ (n = 25) 200 mg twice a day. Both groups received topical natamycin along with oral medication. The primary outcome measure was best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) at 3 months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes were the percentage of healed cases and scar size.

RESULTS

The mean BSCVA after treatment was 1.3 ± 0.35 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution units in the VCZ group and 1.6 ± 0.39 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution units in the KCZ group [P = 0.004, 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.10 to 0.54]. The final mean scar size was smaller for oral VCZ than for oral KCZ (P = 0.04, 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.93 mm). The percentage of cases healed were 80% and 72% in VCZ and KCZ groups, respectively (P = 0.51, 95% CI, -0.15 to 0.31). The ratio of tear film to serum concentration of oral VCZ was better than oral KCZ at days 14 (P = 0.002) and 21 (P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the duration and percentage of healing was similar in both groups, oral VCZ attained a significantly better tear film concentration with a smaller scar size and better BSCVA compared with oral KCZ. Thus, oral VCZ may be preferred over oral KCZ in severe fungal keratitis.