title: LASIK interface keratitis: epidemiology, diagnosis and care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) is one of the more common interface complications occurs after laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK). The diagnosis can sometimes be challenging, as the differential diagnosis includes infectious keratitis, which requires a completely different treatment compared to DLK. This review assesses our current knowledge of the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of DLK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DLK occurs during the immediate postoperative period, but there are also late-onset cases. Early cases can occur in outbreaks, related to exogenous factors. Late-onset cases are most often related to inciting factors. Over time, case reports and series have reported DLK onset occurring further after surgery. It is probable that additional inciting factors will also be reported over time. Visual outcomes following DLK tend to be good when the condition is diagnosed properly and treated with intensive topical or systemic steroids, possibly combined with interface irrigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DLK is a well recognized and well described complication occurring after LASIK. Associated inciting and risk factors and treatment algorithms have been described, but additional questions remain. Our knowledge and our patients will benefit from further research and development of evidence-based treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10467, USA. dgritz@montefiore.org
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gritz
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity