Central toxic keratopathy after small incision lenticule extraction surgery:A case report

Abstract

Purpose To report a rare case of central toxic keratopathy after small incision lenticule extraction surgery (SMILE). Case report A 38-year-old female presented with visual loss 10 days after undergoing SMILE. Subsequently, transparent band keratopathy was protruded in the left cornea and corneal cap opacity was increased, which was accompanied by hyperopic shift and corneal thinning. The patient's condition rapidly improved with the administration of prednisolone acetate and autologous serum, with significant resolution of the transparent band keratopathy within 5 weeks of treatment initiation and subsequent complete visual recovery. Conclusions Central toxic keratopathy is a severe complication after undergoing SMILE, which might be effectively treated using with steroids and autologous serum.