Infection of the conjunctiva by Rhinosporidium seeberi

Rhinosporidiosis is an unusual Fungal disease that rarely affects the eye. It was first described as a pathogen in humans at the turn of the century. The etiologic agent, Rhinosporidium seeberi, commonly produces granulomatous inflammation of the upper respiratory mucosa. Most reported ocular infections have occurred in hot, dry climatic regions. We present a case of conjunctival rhinosporidiosis in an 11-year-old boy from western New York state, the first such report from the temperate zones of North America. The clinical characteristics, histopathologic features, and recommended therapeutic measures are discussed.