Presumed reactivation of herpes zoster ophthalmicus following laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of herpes zoster ophthalmicus reactivation following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia.

METHODS

A 54-year-old healthy male underwent uneventful bilateral LASIK for the correction of myopia and astigmatism (-5.75 -3.00 x 20 degrees right eye, -5.50 -3.00 x 170 degrees left eye). Two months following LASIK, an epithelial dendritic lesion appeared in the lower third of the corneal flap of the left eye with vesiculoulcerative lesions of the lateral side of the tip of the nose.

RESULTS

The patient was treated with topical and oral antiviral agents and had complete recovery of the lesions in 10 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Herpes zoster reactivation may occur following LASIK. Reactivation of herpes zoster in this case could have been coincidental, or secondary to LASIK and the subsequent use of topical corticosteroids following LASIK.