Abstract

Volume.119 Number.12

Original article : Case report

Infection post Excimer Laser Corneal Refractive Surgery
Osamu Hieda1, Chie Sotozono1, Takahiro Nakamura2, Shigeru Kinoshita1
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
2 Department of Frontier Medical Science and Technology for Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

Purpose: To report the cases with severe infection post excimer laser refractive surgery.
Methods: This study involved 6 eyes of 4 women (mean age: 38 years, range: 27-51 years) who underwent excimer laser corneal refractive surgery.
Results: In all 4 cases, the respective primary causative organisms of the infection were quinolone-resistant methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, quinolone-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, yeast type fungus, and in 1 case, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. We initiated topical antibiotics or intensive antifungal treatment, yet due to severe inflammation and ophthalmalgia, analgesic drugs were needed. An average hospitalization period was 38.5 days (range: 22-77 days), and the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 0.5 or more than 0.5 post discharge.
Conclusions: In the treatment of severe corneal infection post refractive surgery, it is important to identify the primary causative organism. If the response to the initial treatment is poor, such patients should immediately be referred to a special clinic to obtain a better visual outcome.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 119: 855-862, 2015.

Key words
Refractive surgery, Corneal infection, Normal external ocular flora, Inflammatory reaction, Ophthalmalgia
Reprint requests to
Osamu Hieda, M.D. Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. 465 Kajii-cho, Hirokouji-agaru, Kawaramachi-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan