Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe the technique of subpalpebral antibiotic lavage (SAL), which is a highly therapeutic, efficient, and cost-effective method for managing severe bacterial keratitis.
Methods: This case report describes a 26-year-old woman with severe bacterial keratitis in the right eye due to contact lens overwear, with progressive corneal thinning, a hypopyon, impending perforation, and marked visual loss to perception of light despite treatment with intensive topical antibiotics. This was managed with SAL that involves the insertion of a cannula transcutaneously into the upper conjunctival fornix to provide continuous antibiotic irrigation of the ocular surface.
Results: By 11 weeks after presentation, the cornea and anterior chamber appeared clinically quiescent, and visual acuity improved to 20/40 corrected in the right eye.
Conclusions: Bacterial keratitis is a potentially blinding condition for which contact lens wear is an important risk factor. Most cases are successfully managed with topical medications; however, in cases of treatment failure, a second-line approach such as SAL can be sight-saving. SAL uses readily available equipment for the delivery of high concentrations of antibiotics to the ocular surface, thus increasing therapeutic efficacy and reducing nursing staff workload. Despite its advantages, the literature reveals apparent underutilization of this technique.
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