Iatrogenic cataract after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE: To report a case of corneal opacity and iatrogenic cataract after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. METHOD: Case report. A 44-year-old man was initially seen with a traumatic cataract, corneal stromal opacity, and defect of the endothelium in the rig ht eye after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis performed by a plastic s urgeon who had no ophthalmologic training. RESULTS: It was speculated that repeated ablations resulted in corneal perf oration. We immediately performed phacoemulisification to remove the catara ct and to prevent phacolytic glaucoma. However, visual acuity remained 20/2 00 because of the corneal stromal opacity, and penetrating keratoplasty was performed 2 months later, which improved best-corrected visual acuity to 2 0/30. CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrated that laser assisted in situ keratomileu sis can cause devastating damage to the eye. (Am J Ophthalmol 1999;128:507- 509, (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).