Surgical-glove-related diffuse lamellar keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis: long-term outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To study the long-term refractive results in eyes that developed surgical-glove-related diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Provincial, Toledo, Spain.


METHODS
This retrospective review analyzed an epidemic of surgical-glove-related DLK over a 5-month period at a single hospital. Twenty-four eyes (24 patients) that developed DLK (DLK group) were compared to 30 eyes (30 consecutive patients) that had surgery during the same time but had an uneventful postoperative course (control group). Follow-up was 12 months in all cases.


RESULTS
Twelve months after LASIK, the mean spherical equivalent was 0.14 diopter (D) +/- 0.36 (SD) in the DLK group and -0.07 +/- 0.33 D in the control group (P=.03). The mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.91 +/- 0.18 and 0.90 +/- 0.17, respectively (P = .81). The mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was 0.97 +/- 0.08 in the DLK group and 0.99 +/- 0.06 in the control group (P = .42). At 1 year, 91.7% of eyes in the DLK group and 93.3% of eyes in the control group were within +/-0.50 D of the attempted correction (P = .82). The BSCVA was 1.0 or better in 87.5% and 93.3%, respectively (P =.46).


CONCLUSIONS
Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of glove-related DLK provided visual outcomes that were similar to those in eyes with an uneventful postoperative course. These good results are consistent with those in studies of classic DLK.
Lazaro
Carlos
C
Hospital Provincial de Toledo, Toledo, Spain. crlg3000@telefonica.net
Perea
Jose
J
Arias
Alfonso
A
D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D003907:Dexamethasone