Acanthamoeba keratitis: report of a case.

Acanthamoeba keratitis, rarely seen in Taiwan, has aroused much attention in western countries in recent years because of the increasing number of reported cases and its usually disastrous outcome. Most of the reported cases were closely associated with contact lens wearing. Others were related to a minor trauma or contacting contaminated water. We report a case of recalcitrant corneal ulcer following trauma, which is the first reported case of Acanthamoeba polyphaga keratitis proven by a special culture method and pathological examination in Taiwan. We reviewed the nature and characteristics of Acanthamoeba keratitis, and discussed the laboratory examinations such as staining techniques, culture methods, light and electron microscopic findings, and treatment for such cases.