Neurotrophic corneal defects after diode laser cycloablation.

PURPOSE: To report the occurrence of neurotrophic corneal defects after ciliary body ablation with the diode laser.

METHODS

Case reports.

RESULT: Neurotrophic keratitis, previously associated with cyclocryotherapy, may also be associated with ciliary body ablation with a contact diode laser.

CONCLUSION

Practitioners who use the diode laser for ciliary body ablation should be aware of neurotrophic keratitis as a possible complication, especially because the patient population receiving this therapy may have diabetes, chronic eye inflammation, or other conditions predisposing to compromised corneal innervation, which is necessary for epithelial integrity.