Early bacterial keratitis after presbyopic LASIK.

PURPOSE: To report an unusual case of infectious keratitis that occurred after presbyopic laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

METHODS

A 57-year-old woman presented with decreased visual acuity and pain in her right eye 2 days after a bilateral presbyopic LASIK procedure. Slit-lamp examination showed a large corneal infiltrate surrounded by marked corneal inflammation. Corneal scraping grew Propionibacterium acnes.

RESULTS

Under topical and systemic antibiotic treatment, the infiltrate slowly resolved. Visual acuity improved from counting fingers at presentation to 20/30 after 8 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of a P. acnes infection after LASIK and the first case of infection complicating a presbyopic LASIK procedure. Although infectious keratitis occurs rarely after refractive surgery, patients should be informed of the potential risk of visual loss caused by such infections.