Incidence of endophthalmitis in a large series of 23-gauge and 20-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy

Background  To study the incidence of endophthalmitis after 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and to compare it with the endophthalmitis rate after 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy performed in the same ophthalmology department. Methods  The charts of 4,021 consecutive 20-gauge or 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomies performed at a single institution, between August 1 2003 and April 1 2008, were reviewed to search for the occurrence of postoperative endophthalmitis. This is a retrospective, interventional, comparative cohort study. Results  Endophthalmitis developed in one of 3,078 eyes after 20-gauge vitrectomy (0.03%) and in none of 943 eyes after 23-gauge vitrectomy. Conclusions  We did not find an increased risk of endophthalmitis after 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy. No financial relationship exists. The authors have full control of all primary data, and they agree to allow Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review their data upon request.