Purpose: To report the development of severe ulcerative keratitis in an adolescent, shortly after initiating corneal refractive therapy.
Methods: A teenager developed severe ulcerative keratitis shortly after being fitted with reverse-geometry contact lenses. The contact lenses were worn daily and only one night before the occurrence of severe ulcerative keratitis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified as the causative organism.
Results: The patient was treated with intensive, fortified antibiotics with gradual resolution of the corneal ulcer, leaving a permanent central stromal scar.
Conclusions: Corneal refractive therapy contact lenses can cause severe bacterial keratitis even after a short wearing time. Significant caution should be used before prescribing corneal refractive therapy lenses, and informed consent should include potential sight-threatening infectious keratitis.