Surgical management of postoperative endophthalmitis: comparison of 2 techniques.

Purpose: To evaluate the results of 2 surgical techniques in eyes with postoperative endophthalmitis.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.

Methods: Twenty-four eyes with endophthalmitis after cataract surgery had vitrectomy as an initial procedure according to the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study (EVS) criteria (Group 1, n = 24). These eyes were compared with 28 eyes that had total pars plana vitrectomy with an encircling band, silicone tamponade, and endolaser (Group 2, n = 28). The visual and anatomical outcomes and the need for additional procedures (repeat vitrectomy) were evaluated in the 2 groups.

Results: In Group 1, 6 eyes (25.0%) had an additional procedure, 3 eyes (12.5%) had phthisis, and 21 eyes (87.5%) had successful surgery. In Group 2, no eye had an additional procedure, 1 eye (3.5%) had phthisis, and 27 eyes (96.4%) had successful surgery. The number of additional procedures was significantly less and the rate of surgical success was significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (P<.01).

Conclusion: Despite the poor visual prognosis of endophthalmitis surgery, more radical intervention can increase the chance of surgical success and decrease the number of additional procedures in eyes with postoperative endophthalmitis.