Contact lens-induced keratitis resembling central toxic keratopathy syndrome

To document a case of contact lens-induced keratitis resembling central toxic keratopathy syndrome.

A 23-year-old female developed an acute, central, stromal haze subsequent to soft contact lens overwear. Slit lamp examination revealed corrugated stromal "mud cracks," as seen in stage IV diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK). This was accompanied by relative corneal thinning and flattening with a hyperopic shift of approximately 6 diopters.

Eight weeks after discontinuing contact lens wear and after a 2-week tapering regimen of topical steroids, she had partial resolution of the central haze, partial increase in corneal thickness, steepness, and decrease in hyperopic shift.

The authors present a case with a history of soft contact lens overwear and a clinical presentation notably similar to the central toxic keratopathy syndrome, which has recently been reported after laser refractive surgery.