Studies of microbial keratitis treatment, prevention and diagnosis in Nepal and East Africa

The study sought to prevent blindness from microbial keratitis (MK) through addressing critical challenges in treatment, prevention and diagnosis. This was addressed by: (1) determining whether topical chlorhexidine is non-inferior to topical natamycin for fungal keratitis; (2) testing whether topical ilomastat can reduce corneal perforation from MK; (3) investigating whether an early primary-care intervention package, including topical chlorhexidine, can reduce blindness from MK; and (4) evaluating diagnostic approaches to identifying causative organisms.