Infectious Keratitis in Corneal Graft following Astigmatic Keratotomy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Femtosecond laser-assisted astigmatic keratotomy (FSAK) is recognized as a safe and effective therapeutic option for addressing high corneal astigmatism in corneal transplants. Although the incidence of corneal infection after FSAK in corneal transplants is very low, early detection and treatment is necessary to optimize visual outcomes and prevent devastating sequelae. This report describes a rare case of an early-onset infectious keratitis occurring in a corneal transplant after FSAK. A 38-year-old man with previous history of penetrating keratoplasty and FSAK presented to emergency department with deep corneal infiltration at the FASK incision site along with a decline in his baseline best corrected visual acuity 1 month after FSAK. Corneal scraping was performed, and topical fortified antibiotic eyedrops were started. Culture results showed no growth. Three weeks later, the corneal infiltrate resolved with residual scarring at the FSAK incision site, and the patient regained his baseline best corrected visual acuity with no sequelae

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ophthalmic Outpatient Care in a Tertiary Care Center in Riyadh

In this paper, we measured the impact of a full COVID-19 lockdown on ophthalmic patients after a period of lockdown in Saudi Arabia, from March to September 2020. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on 180 patients who had their appointments delayed or canceled due to the lockdown. Data was collected from electronic medical records and patients via voice calls using a validated questionnaire that were analyzed using a multivariable binary regression analysis. The results show no statistically significant mean difference in visual acuity when comparing pre- and post-lockdown measurements. The median number of appointment cancellations/delays per patient was two, and the estimated delay for the first canceled appointments was equal to 178.8 days. Of the cohort studied, 15.4% of patients faced delays in necessary surgical and therapeutic interventions; 22.1% of patients sought eye care at other institutions due to the delay, and 15% of those were seen by doctors unspecialized in ophthalmology. The odds of dissatisfaction with care were higher in patients who experienced cancellations in a surgical procedure and patients who experienced difficulty in obtaining medications. In conclusion, the pandemic hampered ophthalmic patients’ access to medications. Subjective visual outcomes of patients were also negatively affected; however, the change in objective visual parameters was not statistically significant