What is postoperative endophthalmitis?
Postoperative endophthalmitis is defined as severe inflammation involving both the anterior and posterior segments of the eye after intraocular surgery.
How is postoperative endophthalmitis treated?
The therapeutic success of treating postoperative endophthalmitis depends largely on accurate and prompt diagnosis. Antibiotic therapy can be topical, sub conjunctival, systemic, or intravitreal. Vitrectomy must be reserved for patients who present with initial visual acuity of light perception.
What causes endophthalmitis after cataract surgery?
Postoperative endophthalmitis is typically caused by the perioperative introduction of microbial organisms into the eye either from the patient’s normal conjunctival and epidermal flora or from contaminated instruments; other risk factors are listed in TABLE 3.
When does endophthalmitis occur after cataract surgery?
The mean time from cataract surgery to the onset of endophthalmitis symptoms was 5.7 days (range: 1–30 days). In 81 eyes (49.4%) endophthalmitis manifested within 3 days of surgery; in 47 eyes (28.6%), it presented within 4–7 days of surgery; and in the remaining 36 eyes (22.0%), it presented >7 days after surgery.
Are there any cases of postoperative endophthalmitis?
Postoperative endophthalmitis remains a rare complication of intraocular surgery. Of the 21,972 patients undergoing cataract extraction at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) from 1995-2001, 8 (0.04%) developed endophthalmitis.
When does chronic endophthalmitis occur after cataract surgery?
Chronic Postoperative Endophthalmitis. In contrast to the rapidly progressive, acute presentation of purulent postoperative endophthalmitis (after cataract surgery), chronic postoperative endophthalmitis has an indolent onset with multiple, recurrent bouts of inflammation beginning weeks to months after surgery.
When to apply topical antibiotics for postoperative endophthalmitis?
The role of topical antibiotics to prevent postoperative endophthalmitis remains controversial. Topical antibiotics may be applied after the injection for a few days, as the break in the conjunctiva and sclera is not completely healed and water-sealed.
What are the signs and symptoms of endophthalmitis?
Common signs: decreased visual acuity, lid swelling, conjunctival and corneal edema, anterior chamber cells + fibrin, hypopyon, vitreous inflammation, retinitis, and blunting of red reflex EVS evaluated only the patients with acute endophthalmitis occuring within 6 weeks of cataract surgery or secondary intraocular lens implantation.