ACANTHAMOEBA INFECTION AFTER RADIAL KERATOTOMY

PURPOSE: To describe a case of Acanthamoeba infection of the cornea af ter radial and astigmatic keratotomy. METHODS: A 29-year old man devel oped ulcerative keratitis in the right eye 6 weeks after uncomplicated radial and astigmatic keratotomy, RESULTS: Three sets of corneal cult ures for bacteria and fungi were negative. Culture on nonnutrient agar grew Acanthamoeba organisms. Clinical improvement occurred after topi cal antiamebic therapy was instituted. CONCLUSIONS: Incisional keratot omy may predispose the cornea to delayed-onset infectious keratitis. A canthamoeba should be considered as a possible cause of infection and should be cultured for in refractory cases.