INFECTIOUS CRYSTALLINE KERATOPATHY FOLLOWING TRABECULECTOMY AND LOW-DOSE TOPICAL STEROIDS

A case of infectious crystalline keratopathy in a patient who had unde rgone trabeculectomy without 5-fluorouracil is described. Chronic low- dose topical steroids were employed. Crystalline keratopathy occurring in this setting has not been previously described. A 73-year-old diab etic woman presented with feathery crystal-like corneal infiltrates. T hese were cultured and treated with antibiotics based on the sensitivi ties. The cultures showed a nutritional variant of Streptococcus that was difficult to grow on routine culture plates. It was sensitive to v ancomycin. Resolution of the infection occurred with topical treatment . Infectious crystalline keratopathy is a rare but classical corneal i nfection. The microbiological characteristics that give rise to its cl inical appearance and laboratory characteristics are discussed. A rati onale for diagnosis and treatment is suggested.