Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the incidence rate of acute–onset, post–cataract surgery endophthalmitis by surgical approach and to assess visual acuity outcomes after treatment. Methods: The medical records were reviewed of all patients who underwent cataract surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from January 1, 2000 through December 1, 2003 for the incidence and visual acuity outcomes of acute–onset endophthalmitis. All patients received povidone iodine preparation of conjunctiva and lid margins prior to surgery. Results: The 4–year incidence rate of acute–onset, post–cataract surgery endophthalmitis was 0.03% (4 of 12,852) for cataract surgery by all methods, 0.03% (3 of 9275) for cataract surgery by clear cornea approach, and 0.03% (1 of 3577) for cataract surgery by approaches other than through clear cornea. The number of patients with endophthalmitis and their final visual acuity for each surgical category are as follows: phacoemulsification via clear cornea incision: 3 (20/20, 20/25, light perception) and extracapsular cataract extraction: 1 (3/200). Two of the 4 (50%) cases were complicated by vitreous loss. One of the 2 uncomplicated cases occurred in an immunocompromised patient, while the other uncomplicated case occurred in a patient with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Overall, 3 of 4 (75%) patients had diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: In the current study, the incidence of acute–onset endophthalmitis following phacoemulsification by clear cornea approach is similar to the incidence following other approaches to cataract extraction. Risk factors for post–cataract surgery endophthalmitis may include vitreous loss, systemic immunosuppression, and diabetes mellitus.
Keywords: endophthalmitis