Unusual ocular presentations of ocular phaeohyphomycosis

Abstract

Purpose Phaeohyphomycosis are melanin-containing fungi that rarely infect the eye. We describe three cases of ocular infection with some unusual clinical features. Methods Series of three case reports describing three different presentations of phaeohyphomycosis of the eye, their histopathology, and management. Results Case 1 mimicked an inflamed conjunctival naevus and was excised on this basis, revealing a conjunctival retention cyst containing pigmented fungal hyphae. Case 2 showed a wooden foreign body incidentally associated with pigmented fungal hyphae, which required treatment with topical antifungal therapy. Case 3 clinically was thought to be a perforated uveal melanoma and comprised an extensive plaque of pigmented fungal hyphae over ulcerated cornea. Conclusion The pigmented melanin containing hyphae of phaeohyphomycosis mimicked melanocytic lesions in two cases and was an incidental finding in the context of a surface foreign body.