title: Delayed sterile keratitis following radial keratotomy successfully treated with conjunctival flap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A case of sterile keratitis involving three adjacent incisions and intervening stroma occurring 5 years after an eight-incision radial keratotomy is reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple cultures showed no pathogens. Treatment with antibiotics, lubricants, patching, and bandage contact lenses failed to improve the condition. A conjunctival bridge flap was therefore performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total resolution of the keratitis occurred rapidly after performing the conjunctival bridge flap.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delayed keratitis following radial keratotomy has been reported in the past. Treatment in these cases has primarily been corneal transplantation. The present case presents an alternative treatment, conjunctival bridge flap, which was successful in this case of sterile keratitis following radial keratotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Phoenix Baptist Hospital, Ariz.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mackman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome