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Infectious post-LASIK crystalline keratopathy caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria
Lênio Alvarenga1, Denise Freitas, Ana Luísa Hofling-Lima
1Department of Ophthalmology, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. alvarenga@oftalmo.epm.br
Purpose:
To report three cases of infectious crystalline keratopathy caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria after LASIK surgery.
Methods:
Interventional case reports and literature review.
Results:
Infectious keratitis with clinical features of crystalline keratopathy after LASIK is described. Culture revealed Mycobacterium chelonae from the corneal scrapings of the three patients, all of whom underwent medical and surgical (debridement) treatment.
Conclusions:
Mycobacteria may cause infectious crystalline keratopathy after LASIK. The presence of crystalline keratopathy in patients that underwent LASIK must be considered an indicator of nontuberculous mycobacteria infection. Microbiologic work-up of a corneal specimen is required for the institution of appropriate therapy.