Fungal
keratitis is a corneal
fungal infection that potentially leads to
blindness and is mainly caused by filamentous fungi, such as Fusarium, with limited
drug options available, such as
natamycin and
voriconazole. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the
therapeutic effects of the
imidazole antifungal
drug-
luliconazole-using a rabbit experimental model of fungal
keratitis caused by Fusarium solani, which is the dominant causative agent of fungal
keratitis. F. solani was inoculated into rabbit corneas.
luliconazole 1%
suspension or
natamycin 5%
eye drops were administered four times a day (N = 6 for each group) 3 days after inoculation. Signs were scored up to 14 days after inoculation to evaluate the efficacy of the drugs. Compared with the peak mean sign scores of the placebo control group, there was a significant decrease in the mean sign scores of both the treatment groups (P < 0.05). Sign score trends were similar between the two treatment groups. In conclusion,
luliconazole demonstrated therapeutic efficacy comparable to that of
natamycin in treating experimental fungal
keratitis. This suggests that
luliconazole can be a novel therapeutic agent for human fungal
keratitis.