Use of photorefractive keratectomy in a patient with a corneal scar secondary to herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

TOPIC: The use of LASIK surgery to correct vision in a patient with postzoster corneal scarring.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The cornea is commonly involved in cases of herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and as a result, corneal scarring after a varicella-zoster virus corneal infection is common. Corneal scars can be treated by lamellar keratoplasty or keratectomy, which may be performed using a microkeratome or excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). However, articles on studies concerning the treatment of postherpetic scars by PTK have been published, offering conflicting results. LASIK surgery may offer an additional therapeutic approach to corneal scarring.

METHODS

A patient seeking corrective surgery to improve vision was found to have corneal scarring.

RESULTS

The patient experienced successful vision correction.

CONCLUSION

LASIK surgery can be conducted even in a patient with postzoster corneal scarring. No complications were apparent in this case.