title: Acanthamoeba keratitis after LASIK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of Acanthamoeba infection following LASIK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 20-year-old woman developed pain, redness, decreased vision, and corneal infiltrate in the right eye 15 days after bilateral LASIK. She did not use contact lenses postoperatively. Patient examination 3 months after surgery revealed a large, central, full-thickness corneal infiltrate with multiple satellite lesions in the right eye. Corneal scrapings were taken and the flap excised, and submitted for histopathologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microscopic examination of smears revealed Acanthamoeba cysts and non-nutrient agar showed a significant growth of Acanthamoeba. Histopathology examination of the excised flap demonstrated numerous Acanthamoeba cysts in tissue sections. The infiltrate was treated with a combination of topical polyhexamethylene biguanide, chlorhexidine, atropine sulfate, and oral itraconazole and resolved within 2 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser in situ keratomileusis can be complicated by Acanthamoeba infection. Microbiologic evaluation is essential for accurate early diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Cornea & Anterior Segment Service, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Ramamurthy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balasubramanya
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Savitri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Geeta K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Vemuganti
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003315:Cornea / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents