Elevated corneal epithelial lines in Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Elevated corneal epithelial lines are another clinical sign in Acanthamoeba corneal infection. In this report, one patient wore extended wear soft contact lenses, and another wore daily wear soft contact lenses. Both patients used distilled water and salt tablets in their lens care. Histopathologic examination of these lines revealed trophozoites and cysts. In one of the patients following penetrating keratoplasty, Acanthamoeba castellani and Acanthamoeba polyphaga were cultured by impression cytology of an epithelial line, as well as from the bulbar and tarsal conjunctiva. In the other patient who did not undergo penetrating keratoplasty, these lines appeared in the cornea one month after initial symptoms.