Table 2. Direct smear examination methods used for the diagnosis of eye infections.

Type of sample	Type of organism/antigen to be detected	Staining methods for smears
Conjunctival swabs/scrapings	Bacteria, fungi, parasites (Microsporidia) Viral antigens	Gram, Giemsa, KOH+Calcofluor white, Kinyoun stain direct/indirect immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase
Corneal scrapings	Bacteria, fungi, parasite (Acanthamoeba, Microsporidia) Viral antigens	Gram, Giemsa, KOH+Calcofluor white, Lactophenol cotton blue, Gomori methenamine silver, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, Kinyoun stain direct/indirect immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase
Aqueous/vitreous fluids/biopsy	Bacteria, fungi Viral antigens	Gram, Giemsa, Calcofluor white, Gomori methenamine silver Direct/indirect immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase