Abstract
Purpose :
To assess whether the incidence of post-cataract endophthalmitis at our institute over the past 10 years is high enough to suggest a change in practice from perioperative antibiotic drops to intracameral injections.
Methods :
A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who developed post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis from 2007-2017. Demographics and case specifics were identified for each incidence. The endophthalmitis incidence rate over this 11-year period was calculated.
Results :
A total of 11,401 cases of cataract surgeries were performed over this study period, and 4 cases of endophthalmitis specific to post-operative cataract surgery were identified. The incidence of endophthalmitis at UC Irvine Medical Center (UCIMC) from 2007-2017 is 3.51 cases per 10,000 surgeries (0.035%).
Conclusions :
The low incidence of post-operative endophthalmitis at a tertiary care academic referral practice over the past 10 years suggests that additional use of intracameral antibiotics to the routine use of perioperative antibiotic drops are not likely indicated. Additionally, with rapid diagnosis and treatment, final visual outcomes are favorable. Future studies can explore the incidence rates at more tertiary academic centers in the US, which can continue to offer insight into the guidance of treatment protocols.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.