CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS, MICROBIOLOGY, AND FACTORS AFFECTING MANAGEMENT OUTCOMES IN LENS ABSCESS WITH CONCURRENT ENDOPHTHALMITIS.

Purpose: To describe the clinical presentations, microbiology, and factors affecting management outcomes in lens abscess with concurrent endophthalmitis.

Materials: A retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative series including cases of endophthalmitis with concurrent lens abscess from January 2017 to May 2021.

Results: This study included 102 eyes, predominantly male (71.6%). All cases were posttrauma. The mean age noted was 30.47 ± 19.51 years. Presenting vision was logMAR 3.02 ± 0.74 (median 3.5, Snellen 20/63245). A favorable anatomical outcome was seen in 63 eyes (61.8%), while a final favorable functional outcome was seen in 51 eyes (50%). The mean follow-up duration was 10.04 ± 10.87 months (median 4.5). Final vision was logMAR 2.13 ± 1.32 (median 2.7, Snellen 20/10023) (P < 0.0001). The mean follow-up duration was 10.04 ± 10.87 months (median 4.5). Increasing age (OR 1.04, P = 0.02), female sex (OR 7.91, P = 0.007), initial intervention of vitrectomy instead of limited vitreous biopsy (OR 11.72, P = 0.009), and a negative vitreous culture (OR 14.28, P = 0.0004) predicted a favorable anatomical outcome. Absence of a corneal infiltrate (OR 11.11, P = 0.003) and initial intervention of vitrectomy instead of a limited vitreous biopsy (OR 21.96, P < 0.0001) predicted a favorable functional outcome. Culture positivity was seen in 56.9% of the cases. Gram-positive organisms were predominant (n = 41) followed by Gram-negative organisms (n = 12) and fungi (n = 10).

Conclusion: Lens abscess can present concurrently with traumatic endophthalmitis. Management should involve the complete removal of the crystalline lens along with a pars plana vitrectomy for optimal outcomes.