title: Mycobacterium abscessus keratitis after LASIK with IntraLase femtosecond laser.
abstract: A healthy 38-year-old woman developed 2 white spots in her left eye 2 weeks after bilateral laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using the IntraLase femtosecond laser. Initial treatment included levofloxacin 0.5% but was unsuccessful. The surgeon irrigated the interface and repositioned the flap due to a worsened lesion. She was referred to us after the keratitis had not improved. The flap was lifted for collection of the specimen and irrigation of the interface. The keratitis was treated with intensive topical clarithromycin 1%, amikacin 1.25% and oral clarithromycin, which improved her clinical condition. She developed a toxic reaction to amikacin 1.25%, which was replaced by moxifloxacin 0.5%. Mycobacterium abscessus was identified. The keratitis resolved over 2 months. Five months after treatment, the patient had a visual acuity of 20/20 with correction. Nontuberculous mycobacteria should be considered as an etiologic agent, even in cases of infectious keratitis after LASIK using the femtosecond laser.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: So-Hyang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Mi In
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Min Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Hyung Keun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eung Kweon
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004867:Equipment Design; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*