Late onset of haze associated with viral keratoconjunctivitis following photorefractive keratectomy.

BACKGROUND

To report a newly recognized cause of late onset of corneal haze following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

METHODS

A 35-year old woman who underwent uneventful PRK and subsequently developed viral keratoconjunctivitis 1 year after treatment.

RESULTS

During resolution of the viral keratoconjunctivitis, the patient developed extensive central corneal subepithelial infiltrates and anterior stromal fibrosis in the PRK ablation zone. More than 1 year after the initial infection, the central subepithelial fibrosis persisted, complicated by myopic regression, central steep island on videokeratography, and loss of five lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity. By the end of the second year after the infection, visual acuity had improved with disappearance of the central steep island on videokeratography. However, the myopic regression and subepithelial fibrosis remained.

CONCLUSION

Patients who undergo PRK may be at greater risk of visual loss following viral keratoconjunctivitis secondary to persistent subepithelial infiltrates and/or stromal fibrosis within the PRK treatment zone.