Acanthamoeba Keratitis: 14 Cases Treated With Polihexanide 0.08% In Monotherapy
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POCOR214 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/vff2-de59
Authors: Dr Ana Hervás Ontiveros* 1 , Dr Juan Carlos Nieto 2 , Dr Sara Fathi 3
1Onface Clinic,Valencia ,Spain;Hospital La Fe ,Valencia ,Spain, 2Avanza Clinic,Valencia ,Spain, 3FOM,Valencia ,Spain
Purpose
To report efficacy and safety topical PHMB (polihexanide) 0.08% (0.8 mg/ml) in monotherapy for Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) treatment.
Setting
The study was done at Hospital La Fe (Valencia)
Methods
We report 14 cases with AK.During 6 months in every case, we treated all the patients with this regimen (daily time only): 1 drop every hour (day 1 to 5), 1 drop every 2 hours (day 6 to 12), 1 drop every 3 hours (day 13 to 20), 1 drop every 4 hours (day 21 to resolution). The medical cure was defined as complete clinical resolution visualized by slit lamp and absence of corneal inflammation. The main outcome measure was clinical findings within 6 months, and secondary outcomes including best corrected visual acuity. Safety outcomes included adverse event rates.
Results
Fourteen eyes of AK with variable severity received PHMB 0.08% at the described regimen (Stage 1=3, Stage 2= 3, Stage 3=1, Stage 4=4, Stage 5=3) . Ten eyes were contact lens wearers. The medical cure rate within 6 months was 100% with complete resolution in 14 cases. The median time of treatment was 122 days. Secondary outcomes were median best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20. 2 of 10 patients required Optic Penetrating Keratoplasty due to the severity of the infectious process and the central leucoma. No drug-related adverse events occurred.
Conclusions
PHMB 0.08% monotherapy may be effective for Acanthamoeba keratitis with medical cure rates of more than 85%.