title: Mycobacterium chelonei keratopathy with visual rehabilitation by a triple procedure.
abstract: We report a chronic keratouveitis following an eye injury, the etiology of which remained obscure despite repeated corneal scrapings and cultures. Eventually, the diagnosis was established by culturing Mycobacterium chelonei from a corneal biopsy specimen. Topical amikacin resolved active inflammation, but dense corneal scarring and a cataract remained. Visual rehabilitation was achieved through a combined penetrating keratoplasty, extracapsular cataract extraction, and intraocular lens implantation. This case illustrates that there should be a high index of suspicion of atypical mycobacteria when faced with any unusual keratitis, particularly following penetrating injuries and corneal grafts.
authors: John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii.
authors: T B
authors: TB
authors: Crane
authors: R E
authors: RE
authors: Stevens
authors: R D
authors: RD
authors: Couch
authors: T L
authors: TL
authors: Lee
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Terui
mesh_terms: D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*