Toxic keratopathy-related corneal dehydration after laser in situ keratomileusis

A 33-year-old woman had progressive blurred vision 2 weeks after uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis surgery. Initial satisfactory uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was complicated by postoperative dry eye and drug toxicity. Slitlamp biomicroscopy revealed diffuse punctate epithelial keratitis and inferior corneal epithelial defect with rolled-up epithelium on the flaps and the inferior unoperated cornea in both eyes. Diffuse inflammatory cell infiltrates were evident in the stroma. Stromal thinning was evident on serial Orbscan (Bausch & Lomb) and pachymetry examinations, and a hyperopic shift of almost +6 diopters was observed in the refractive error in both eyes. These examinations showed a gradual recovery of stromal thickness after copious hydration with balanced salt solution. The UCVA was 1.0 in both eyes after corneal rehydration.