Rapid Diagnosis of Acanthamoeba Keratitis by Iodine Staining of Corneal Scrapings

Background: Early and accurate diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis is crucial for appropriate clinical management, preventing permanent corneal damage, scarring, or even perforation. We aimed to introduce a rapid diagnostic method for A. keratitis. Methods: Corneal scrapings from 21 patients with culture- and PCR-confirmed A. keratitis were evaluated using Giemsa and iodine staining. All cases were referred to Farabi Eye Hospital, a tertiary care center in Tehran, Iran, for specialized evaluation and management. Results: Acanthamoeba was detected in 42.33% of samples stained with Giemsa and 100% of samples stained with iodine. Conclusion: Iodine staining is a simple, cost-effective, and rapid method for diagnosing A. keratitis.