New Non-invasive Cellular and Molecular Tests to Diagnose Infectious Keratitis Using Confocal Microscopy and Tear Film Analysis

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying infectious keratitis, a serious eye infection that can cause vision loss and blindness. The study aims to improve diagnosis by identifying the specific type of infectionwhether bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasiticso that treatment can be targeted more accurately. This approach hopes to reduce misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments that may worsen vision over time. The study uses advanced, non-invasive diagnostic methods including in vivo confocal microscopy IVCM to observe the cornea cells and identify microbes in real-time. Tear film samples will also be collected to analyze molecular signals and cytokine patterns associated with different infections. These diagnostic tools are being evaluated to see if they can better match clinical outcomes and potentially lead to faster, more precise care. Participants suspected of having infectious keratitis will undergo eye examinations with IVCM and provide tear samples for analysis. Researchers will measure the specificity of IVCM findings and cytokine profiles for different microbial infections over an 18-month period. This observational study does not involve treatment interventions but focuses on diagnosis, with follow-up assessments to monitor disease progression and response over time.

Non-invasive Diagnostics of Microbial Keratitis