Nd : YBG laser corneal disruption as adjuvant treatment for infectious crystalline keratopathy

PURPOSE: To report on the use of the Nd:YAG laser corneal disruption in the treatment of infectious crystal line keratopathy, METHOD: Case report. A 52 year-old woman with infectious crystalline kerato pathy unresponsive to topical antibiotics was treated with an Nd:YAG laser to the intrastromal crystals. RESULTS: After Nd:YAG laser treatment, the infiltrate completely cleared wi thin 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Nd:YAG laser treatment may be effective in disrupting the prot ective glycocalyx matrix within the intrastromal crystals, rendering the ba cteria susceptible to topical antibiotics. This treatment should be conside red for patients with infectious crystalline keratopathy clinically resista nt to topical antibiotics. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc, All rights res erved.