Bilateral Infectious Keratitis following Photore fractive Keratectomy

ABSTRACT

PRK is presumed to be safe with a high success rate and few complications.However, since epithelial defects created by surgery disrupt corneal barrier function, infectious keratitis may occur.We experienced a case of bilateral infectious keratitis after PRK in a 32 years old woman who had complained of pain and blurred vision in both eyes.To our knowledge, no bilateral infectious keratitis after PRK has been reported in the literature. In our case, we presumed that infectious keratitis after PRK occurred due to therapeutic soft contact lenses, possibility of intraoperative contamination, physical stress or ultraviolet radiation.Although the causative organism was not identified on culture, clinical pattern of keratitis was similar to bacterial infection.The patient was treated with maximal topical antibiotics on both eyes and with amniotic membrane patching in the left eye.After proper management, the patient'suncorrected visual acuity had returned to 1.0/0.9 in Snellen chart. This case emphasizes the need for an informed consent for postoperative complications, careful preoperative examination, and proper management.