title: Infectious post-LASIK crystalline keratopathy caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report three cases of infectious crystalline keratopathy caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria after LASIK surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional case reports and literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infectious keratitis with clinical features of crystalline keratopathy after LASIK is described. Culture revealed Mycobacterium chelonae from the corneal scrapings of the three patients, all of whom underwent medical and surgical (debridement) treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mycobacteria may cause infectious crystalline keratopathy after LASIK. The presence of crystalline keratopathy in patients that underwent LASIK must be considered an indicator of nontuberculous mycobacteria infection. Microbiologic work-up of a corneal specimen is required for the institution of appropriate therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. alvarenga@oftalmo.epm.br
authors.forename: Lênio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarenga
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Ana Luísa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hofling-Lima
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belfort
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Luciene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mannis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents