Fungal Keratitis Caused By Green Tea Warm Bag Compress

This case presents the development of severe fungal keratitis sourced from a green tea bag used as an ocular warm compress.

Hadassah Medical Center - Hebrew University Hospital.

A twenty-nine-year-old healthy patient developed a deep stromal fungal keratitis in his left eye two weeks after utilizing a green tea bag as a warm compress to improve meibomian gland dysfunction that ruptured over his eye. Treatment of infection included topical and intrastromal injections of voriconazole. Topical treatment was maintained after hospital discharge for ten months. Follow-ups were continued until the complete resolution of active infection. Final corrected visual acuity was 0.7 (LogMAR, 0.3 pinhole) and there was residual corneal scarring. 

Fungal keratitis can be associated with using green tea bags as a warm compress. Warm compresses are a first-line treatment for meibomian gland disorders, including hordeolum. Though medical providers often suggest accessible, economical options, the application method should be carefully considered to prevent adverse events such as infection.