Acanthamoeba keratitis after LASIK.
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.
Balasubramanya
Ramamurthy
R
Cornea & Anterior Segment Service, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.
Garg
Prashant
P
Sharma
Savitri
S
Vemuganti
Geeta K
GK
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*
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents