title: Idiopathic recurrence of diffuse lamellar keratitis after LASIK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of late recurrence of bilateral diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) after LASIK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 39-year-old woman presented in the early postoperative period with bilateral DLK after hyperopic LASIK and was treated with topical steroids. One year after and with no obvious cause (idiopathic), recurrence of the same stage (stage III) of disease was observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Slit-lamp examination revealed diffuse, multifocal, and granular haze in the interface. The microbiology culture was negative. Confocal microscopy demonstrated multiple activated keratocytes, debris, and inflammatory cells adjacent to the flap interface. After intense treatment with topical corticosteroids, DLK resolved and corneal transparency was achieved with complete restoration of visual acuity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffuse lamellar keratitis may recur in LASIK patients with previous episodes without an obvious cause (idiopathic). Early diagnosis and treatment with topical corticosteroids can achieve complete resolution without visual loss--even in advanced stages of DLK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Crete, Greece. kymionis@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kymionis
authors.forename: Vassilios F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Diakonis
authors.forename: Dimitrios I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Bouzoukis
authors.forename: Ileana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lampropoulou
authors.forename: Aristofanis I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Pallikaris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000601:surgery*; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012008:Recurrence; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone