Colonization of therapeutic contact lens by dematiaceous fungi.

Purpose: To report 2 patients with colonization of therapeutic contact lens with dematiaceous fungi.

Methods: Case report.

Results: The first patient had a retained soft contact lens on an opaque cornea for 4 years with brownish black multiple colonies on the soft contact lens and culture grew Bipolaris spp. The second patient was on therapeutic contact lens for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy for 4 months and developed a brownish colonization of contact lens with unidentified dematiaceous fungi. Both the patients had conjunctivitis but did not develop fungal keratitis.

Conclusion: Judicious use of therapeutic contact lens is required in agrarian countries with adequate emphasis on strict adherence to the standard protocols and frequent replacement of the lens.