Utility Of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography In Assessing And Treating Infectious Keratitis After Refractive Surgery
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO710 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/7tcv-tq74
Authors: Faruk Semiz* 1 , Ceren Ece Semiz 1 , Njomza Hima Musa 1 , Fetih Furkan Arslan 2
1Eye Hospital,Prishtina,Kosovo, 2Ophthalmology,Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Faculty of Medicine,Istanbul,Türkiye
Purpose
Infectious keratitis after refractive surgery is a rare but potentially vision-threatening complication, and prompt management is needed to avoid vision loss.It has been demonstrated that Anterior Segment Optical coherence tomography (AS–OCT) can help in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious keratitis,but its utility has not been studied in cases occurring after refractive surgery. In these procedures, a surgical interface is created, determining a different AS–OCT pattern compared to other corneal infections. In this study, we assessed the utility of AS-OCT in assessing and treating infectious keratitis after femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (FS–LASIK) and keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx) surgeries.
Setting
Centre for Research in Refractive Surgery, Poggibonsi, Italy
Siena Eye Laser Clinic, Poggibonsi, Italy
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 22,756 eyes of 13,564 patients who underwent FS–LASIK and KLEx at our surgical center. Patients who developed infectious keratitis were included in our study.
Results
Four cases of post–refractive surgery infectious keratitis were included (2 after FS–LASIK and 2 after KLEx),in which the AS–OCT identified an initial infiltrate in the interface,followed by interface inflammation.In 2 cases after FS–LASIK,the infection was associated with interface fluid accumulation that resolved after topical treatment.In one patient who developed an epithelial ulcer, the AS-OCT showed an increased stromal thickness associated with stromal inflammation. After resolution, stromal thickness decreased,and AS-OCT tomography demonstrated regularization of the epithelial map. In one case after KLEx, diffuse interface inflammation led to stromal reabsorption, later compensated by epithelial hyperplasia, well documented by OCT.
Conclusions
AS–OCT represents a useful tool for assessing corneal infections after refractive surgery, guiding the treatment, and evaluating the healing process and residual corneal scarring.