AIM: To examine the configuration of fungal keratitis and the detection rate of hypha and spore under confocal laser microscopy and investigate the value of confocal microscopy in the clinical diagnosis of fungal keratitis.

METHODS: We conducted laserconfocal microscopy on 41 patients of 41 eyes diagnosed as fungal keratitis and compared the configuration of different layers of cornea in different stages.

RESULTS: The fungal infected corneas histologically showed disordered layers, edema, infiltration of inflammatory cells, damaged sub-epithelial nerves and disordered stroma with reduced transparence. Hypha showed a specific base on the diagnosis of the disease, but not the only, it may appeared different configuration in different types of fungal keratitis and at different stages of the disease.

CONCLUSION:Confocal laser microscopy is a noninvasive and rapid intuitive technique, and can offer helpful analysis in the early diagnosis, reasonable treatment and prognosis evaluation of fungal keratitis.