Keratolysis following excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy in a patient with keratoconus

PURPOSE: We report a case of keratolysis following phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for a subepithelial nodule in a patient with keratoconus. METHODS: A 29-year-old male with keratoconus who became contact lens intolerant because of a raised subepithelial nodule was treated with excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). RESULTS: The epithelium failed to heal postoperatively, and progressive keratolysis led to a central descemetocele by the eighth postoperative day. The patient was managed with a penetrating keratoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy has been shown to be an effective treatment for subepithelial nodules in patients with keratoconus. Rapidly progressive keratolysis is a potential complication of this procedure.