Sterile interface keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis: three episodes in one patient with concomitant contact dermatitis of the eyelids.

PURPOSE: To illustrate a case in which sterile interface keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) occurred concomitantly with an allergic contact dermatitis of the eyelids. METHODS: Retrospective case review. RESULTS: Resolution of the interface keratitis and dermatitis occurred following an intense course of topical corticosteroids and brief course of oral corticosteroids. Despite an attempt to eliminate potential causes, the same patient developed interface keratitis in the fellow eye following both the initial LASIK and an enhancement, in which no microkeratome was used. Intense treatment with both topical and oral corticosteroids led to a final uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 in the right eye and 20/25+2 in the left eye. CONCLUSION: The etiology and mechanism of sterile interface keratitis after LASIK are unknown, but are probably multifactorial. The concomitant contact dermatitis reaction may indicate a common immune mechanism.