Rare corneal complication following selective laser trabeculoplasty

PURPOSE: This case report describes two glaucoma patients who underwent selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and developed a rare post-procedure corneal complication and subsequent permanent corneal distortions and reduced acuity. OBSERVATIONS: Both patients experienced early post-procedure corneal edema, reduced visual acuity, and pain. Each patient was treated with topical steroids with resolution of the edema, but each patient had irregular corneal astigmatism which was not present pre-operatively and did not resolve. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: There are very few reported cases of post-SLT corneal edema and these typically resolve without long-term complications. The following two cases represent an uncommon adverse event of irregular corneal astigmatism despite resolution of the corneal edema. The exact mechanism of these corneal effects is not known. Practitioners should inform patients of this rare, but possible complication following SLT and consider extra precautions in patients susceptible to corneal edema.