Traumatic epithelial flap detachment after laser subepithelial keratomileusis

PURPOSE: To report a case of corneal epithelial flap detachment 20 days after laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). METHODS: A 30-year-old man underwent LASEK for correction of myopia. On postoperative day 8, he was comfortable and the corneal epithelium healed completely with uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 20/20. On postoperative day 20, the corneal epithelial flap on the right eye detached and was lost during pressure patching after puncture of the hordeolum. RESULTS: The corneal defect was treated with a bandage contact lens, levofloxacin, and hyaluronic acid eye drops. Ten days after detachment, UCVA had improved to 20/20 and the epithelium had closed completely. CONCLUSIONS: Mild trauma can cause epithelial flap detachment during the early postoperative period of LASEK.