Central toxic keratopathy after refractive surgery: Diagnosis, treatment and challenges in the routine clinical...

Central toxic keratopathy (CTK) is a rare, non-inflammatory complication that can arise after LASIK surgery. It typically presents between days3 and 9 postoperatively, characterized by central corneal opacification, stromal thinning, and a hyperopic shift. In this clinical case, a 34-year-old patient with a history of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma developed CTK in the right eye after undergoing excimer laser refractive surgery. The diagnostic process and clinical evolution of the condition under conservative treatment are detailed. Different theories regarding the pathophysiology of CTK are also presented, highlighting the importance of differential diagnosis with diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) and its therapeutic implications to minimize visual sequelae.