Infectious keratitis related to overnight orthokeratology.
OBJECTIVE
To report the microbial culture results, clinical course, and visual outcomes for infectious keratitis related to overnight orthokeratology.


METHODS
The records of patients with infectious keratitis related to overnight orthokeratology who presented to a tertiary referral center from April 2000 to March 2003 were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Twenty patients (21 eyes) were included; 1 patient had bilateral infections. The average age of the patients was 14 years. The average period between the time the patient started the overnight orthokeratology program and the onset of infectious keratitis was 23 months. Thirteen of the 21 eyes were culture positive. Organisms cultured were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 9), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (n = 2), Serratia marcescens (n = 1), and Acathamoeba species (n = 1). All patients responded well to medical antimicrobial treatment. Final best spectacle-corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to 20/100.


CONCLUSIONS
Infectious keratitis is a potential complication of overnight orthokeratology that may cause significant visual impairment. Parents of children who consider overnight orthokeratology should evaluate the benefit of temporary myopia reduction and the risk of infection.
Hsiao
Ching-Hsi
CH
Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 199, Tung Hwa North Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Lin
Hsin-Chiung
HC
Chen
Yeong-Fong
YF
Ma
David H K
DH
Yeh
Lung-Kun
LK
Tan
Hsin-Yuan
HY
Huang
Samuel C M
SC
Lin
Ken-Kuo
KK
D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents