title: Peripheral keratitis following laser in situ keratomileusis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report two different cases of sterile, peripheral keratitis following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
  
  
  METHODS
  A report of two cases (two eyes of two patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In two patients, peripheral infiltrates appeared 1 day after LASIK. One patient had a history of rheumatoid arthritis and both had peripheral corneal changes that may have represented prior inflammatory events. The presentations were quite different, with one occurring in association with an epithelial defect at the edge of the flap and the other occurring without an epithelial defect peripheral to the microkeratome cut. In the second case a similar infiltrate showed up in the unoperated fellow eye. Both patients were treated with aggressive antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy. Both patients recovered well with no loss of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripheral keratitis can occur in patients following LASIK; preoperative evidence of previous inflammation may be a marker for patients at higher risk. Rheumatoid arthritis patients may be at increased risk for this complication. With careful and aggressive management excellent visual outcomes are still possible.
authors.affiliation: Center For Sight, Sarasota, FL 34238, USA. wjlahners@centerforsight.net
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lahners
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hardten
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lindstrom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids