Central toxic keratopathy

To describe recent evidence from the literature regarding central toxic keratopathy syndrome (CTK).

CTK describes a rare, self-limited, noninflammatory postsurgical condition that presents with central corneal opacity and a significant hyperopic shift. Although its cause remains uncertain, CTK bears a striking clinical resemblance to other more serious conditions and is, therefore, often misdiagnosed and mismanaged. Despite its noninflammatory nature, the overlapping clinical features CTK shares with other inflammatory and infectious processes have led some to treat CTK with steroids. Recent studies discourage the use of steroids in CTK and recommend allowing the condition to resolve on its own.

Although CTK resembles other inflammatory conditions that are responsive to steroids, current studies suggest that steroid administration is contraindicated in CTK and can exacerbate preexisting refractive alterations in patients with the condition.