LATE-ONSET DIFFUSE LAMELLAR KERATITIS IN THE CONTEXT OF CONJUNCTIVITIS RELATED TO COVID-19
Published 2025 - 29th ESCRS Winter Meeting
Reference: CR03.05 | Type: Case Report (Cornea Day) | DOI: 10.82333/0xz9-tq40
Authors: Akaanksh Shetty* 1 , Rahul Tonk 1
1Bascom Palmer,Miami,United States
Purpose
The aim of this report is to present a case of diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) occurring 23 years after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) - coinciding with a recent diagnosis of conjunctivitis related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Setting
Academic Hospital; Eye Clinic
Report of case
Case report of a 47-year-old woman had LASIK in 2000 and developed conjunctivitis related to COVID-19 in March 2022. In February 2023, she presented with 5 days of decreased vision (corrected distance visual acuity 20/25), photophobia, and glare in her right eye. She was diagnosed as having stage I DLK in the right eye based on corneal inflammatory infiltrates in the peripheral flap interface.
Conclusion / Take home message
Topical steroids improved the patient’s symptoms and resolved the inflammatory infiltrates within 2 months with a final corrected distance visual acuity of 20/20.
This report describes a rare case of DLK occurring more than 20 years after LASIK.