PURPOSE: To report three cases of infectious crystalline keratopathy caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria after LASIK surgery. METHODS: Interventional case reports and literature review. RESULTS: Infectious keratitis with clinical features of crystalline keratopathy after LASIK is described. Culture revealed Mycobacterium chelonae from the corneal scrapings of the three patients, all of whom underwent medical and surgical (debridement) treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Mycobacteria may cause infectious crystalline keratopathy after LASIK. The presence of crystalline keratopathy in patients that underwent LASIK must be considered an indicator of nontuberculous mycobacteria infection. Microbiologic work-up of a corneal specimen is required for the institution of appropriate therapy.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Alvarenga et al. (2002) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: