Early bacterial keratitis after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy.

We report a case of bacterial keratitis that occurred after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy. The patient presented with a decrease in visual acuity and pain 2 days after the procedure. Culture was positive for Staphylococcus haemolyticus. The infiltrate slowly resolved with topical antibiotics, and the best corrected visual acuity improved to 20/20. Although bacterial keratitis occurs rarely after refractive surgery, patients should be informed of the potential risk for visual loss caused by this infection.