Keratopathy after cross-linking for keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To report 2 cases of keratopathy after uneventful cross-linking procedures for grade 3 keratoconus.

METHODS

Two patients (21 and 11 years old) with grade 3 keratoconus underwent uneventful cross-linking in 1 eye. In both patients, multiple peripheral stromal precipitates, which extended centripetally, were observed 48 hours after the procedure. Sample cultures were negative for bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

RESULTS

Cornea infiltrates slowly resolved after combined topical antibiotic/antifungal/povidone/steroids treatment. Final best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 for patient 1, after uneventful bilateral toric intraocular contact lens (ICL) (Staar Surgical) implantation, but faint and paracentral scarring persisted. Final best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 for patient 2 with gas-permeable contact lens wear, despite stromal scarring.

CONCLUSIONS

Cross-linking associated with sterile keratitis is an unusual entity of unknown etiology, which can lead to stromal scarring.