Objective: To determine anti-fungal effect of butyl cyanoacrylate glue in vitro in common fungi related to corneal infections.

Materials and Methods: The authors transferred the following fungi; Fusarium spp. (2 isolates, no.1431 and no.2861), Aspergillus flavus (no.5573) and Curvularia spp. (no.1631) into Sabouraud dextrose agar plates. Then, a single drop of butyl cyanoacrylate glue was dropped on the center of studied plates in various volumes (5, 15, 25, and 35 μl), two copies for each condition. Anti-fungal activities were determined by measuring inhibition zones (inhibition zone diameter [IZD]) and the ratio between IZD and direct contact diameter [DCD] after 48-hour incubation at room temperature.

Results: Mean of IZD of all fungi at glue volumes of 5, 15, 25, and 35 μl were 10, 23, 22.75, and 26.86 mm, respectively. The maximum IZD was found in A. flavus 5573 at glue volume of 35 μl (36.50 mm) and the minimum IZD was found in Curvularia spp. 1631 at glue volume of 5 μl (0 mm). The IZD/DCD ratio were directly increased with higher glue volume in dose-dependent relationship. Every 1 μl of additional glue volume, increased IZD for 0.5 mm with R-square 0.78 (95% CI 0.30 to 1.31).

Conclusion: Butyl cyanoacrylate glue demonstrated anti-fungal effects in dose-dependent fashion in vitro experiment. The clinical application of glue for small fungal infectious corneal perforations might be considered as an optimal treatment, particularly for developing countries and areas with shortage of corneal tissue.

Keywords: N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue, Anti-fungal effect, Ophthalmic sealing, Synthetic adhesive compound, Corneal perforation