Polymicrobial keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis.

Abstract

To report a case of polymicrobial infectious keratitis in one eye of a patient who had undergone bilateral simultaneous laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). A 21-year-old healthy female developed infectious keratitis in her right eye after bilateral LASIK surgery. Material obtained from the infective foci was sent for bacterial and fungal cultures and herpes simplex virus antigen detection, and broad spectrum antimicrobial therapy was instituted. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Fusarium solani were detected on culture and herpes simplex virus antigen was found to be positive. The patient did not respond to medical therapy and subsequently the ulcer perforated. A therapeutic keratoplasty was performed and the final best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40, 1 month after keratoplasty. Polymicrobial infectious keratitis, although rare, is a potential sight-threatening complication of LASIK.