Table 3.
Clinical features and diagnosis at presentation (n = 313).
| Variable | Median | (IQR [Total Range]) |
|---|---|---|
| Infiltrate size (mm)a | 5.2 | (3.3–7.7 [0.5–13]) |
|
Epithelial defect size
(mm)a |
3.9 |
(2.4–6.5 [0–14]) |
| Variable |
n/313 |
(%) |
| Snellen Visual Acuity in affected eye(n = 312) | ||
| 6/5–6/18 | 102 | (33%) |
| 6/24–6/60 | 42 | (12%) |
| 5/60–3/60 | 24 | (8%) |
| 2/60–1/60 | 33 | (11%) |
| Counting fingers-light perception | 103 | (33%) |
| No light perception | 9 | (3%) |
| Snellen visual acuity in non-affected eye (n = 312) | ||
| 6/5–6/18 | 278 | (89%) |
| 6/24–6/60 | 16 | (5%) |
| 5/60–3/60 | 2 | (1%) |
| 2/60–1/60 | 4 | (1.2%) |
| Counting fingers-light perception | 6 | (2%) |
| No light perception | 6 | (1.8%) |
| Slough (n = 312)b | ||
| No slough | 62 | (20%) |
| Flat | 124 | (40%) |
| Raised | 126 | (40%) |
| Infiltrate edge (n = 293) | ||
| Defined | 35 | (12%) |
| Serrated | 258 | (82%) |
| Not visible | 20 | (6%) |
| Satellite lesions present (n = 304) | ||
| Yes | 178 | (57%) |
| No | 126 | (40%) |
| Infiltrate colour (n = 288) | ||
| White | 148 | (47%) |
| Cream | 106 | (34%) |
| Other colour | 34 | (11%) |
| Hypopyon (median height 1.3mm IQR 0.9–2.9, n = 301) | ||
| Yes | 94 | (30%) |
| No | 217 | (69%) |
| Site of ulcer (n = 310)c | ||
| Peripheral | 27 | (9%) |
| Paracentral | 64 | (21%) |
| Central | 219 | (70%) |
| Perforation status | ||
| Not perforated | 237 | (76%) |
| Impending | 31 | (10%) |
| Perforated | 48 | (12%) |
| Perforated & sealed | 7 | (2%) |
| Overall Laboratory diagnosis (n = 270)d | ||
| Unknown | 65 | (21%) |
| Bacterial | 20 | (6%) |
| Fungal | 168 | (54%) |
| Mixed (bacteria/fungal) | 17 | (5%) |
Where n < 313 was due to some missing data: percentages calculated for 313 and rounded off to the nearest whole number.
aThese were calculated as the geometrical means using the MUTT protocol. The upper limits exceeded normal corneal diameter for some lesions, which extended up to the sclera.
bRaised slough was when the corneal infiltrate profile was raised, flat slough was when the profile was flat while no slough is when there was no debris noted.
cSite of ulcer was peripheral when the ulcer was marginal, paracentral was when the ulcer was not marginal but not within 4 mm of the center of the cornea, central was when the ulcer was within the central 4 mm of the cornea.
Impending perforation is when the clinicians felt the ulcer would perforate in the next 48 h.
dSpecimen for microbiology was collected in 270 patients. Due to limited amounts of sample material, it was not possible to perform all tests on all those sampled. The order of material collection was 3 slide smears (gram, KOH, CFW), 3 agar inoculations (blood, chocolate, PDA) and 1 broth (BHI) depending on available material.