[A case of noninflammatory corneal edema following anterior-posterior radial keratotomy successfully treated by topical steroids].
BACKGROUND
Corticosteroids seems to affect the functions of corneal endothelial cells directly in addition to its anti-inflammatory effect.


METHODS
A 69-year-old male presented with left blurred vision and decreased visual acuity in both eyes. He had undergone anterior-posterior radial keratotomy for myopia in both eyes 40 years before. Both eyes showed mild corneal stromal edema in the pupil area. We diagnosed the condition as corneal edema secondary to cell loss and dysfunction of corneal endothelium after surgery. The stromal edema further advanced in the left eye one month later. The corneal thickness increased from the initial value of 619 to 631 microns. The corrected visual acuity decreased from 0.5 to 0.06. There were no signs suggesting inflammatory reaction. The left eye was then treated with topical corticosteroids as eye-drops and by subconjunctival injection. The corneal thickness decreased to 546 microns two months later with improvement of visual acuity to 0.5.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates that topical corticosteroids may be effective for corneal edema through their anti-inflammatory effect and possible activation of the endothelium.
Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
K
K
Fukuda
H
H
Takeuchi
T
T
Nishida
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011183:Postoperative Complications
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D003907:Dexamethasone