The epidemiology of acute endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in an Asian population

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcome of acute endophthalmitis after cataract extraction in a multiethnic Asian population. DESIGN: Prospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: All patients with cataract extractions performed at the Singapore National Eye Center from 1996 to 2001. METHODS: Data on patients with acute endophthalmitis cases presenting within 6 weeks after cataract surgery were prospectively collected in a standardized format. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. RESULTS: During the study period, 44 803 cataract operations (25 476 phacoemulsification and 19 327 extracapsular cataract extractions) were performed. There were 34 cases of acute endophthalmitis (average annual incidence of 0.076%), 21 of which were culture positive (average annual incidence of 0.040%). In multivariate analysis, risk of endophthalmitis was associated with phacoemulsification technique (relative risk [RR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9, 3.9; P = 0.10 for all endophthalmitis cases; RR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.1, 9.4; P = 0.04 for culture-positive endophthalmitis cases) and the occurrence of intraoperative posterior capsule rupture (RR, 8.0; 95% CI, 3.1, 20.7; P<0.001 for all endophthalmitis cases; RR, 11.0; 95% CI, 3.7, 23.9; P<0.001 for culture-positive endophthalmitis cases). After a median follow-up of 234 days, half of the eyes achieved a final best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40. Predictors of this visual acuity included baseline acuity of counting fingers or better, culture-negative endophthalmitis, or infection caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. CONCLUSION: The incidence of acute endophthalmitis after cataract extraction in Singapore is consistent with rates reported elsewhere. The phacoemulsification technique is associated with a higher risk of acute culture-positive endophthalmitis compared with extracapsular cataract extraction. Intraoperative posterior capsule rupture is associated with an 8- to 11-fold higher risk of acute endophthalmitis, suggesting that these eyes should be closely monitored for signs of infection in the immediate postoperative period.     

Different techniques of extracapsular cataract extraction: bacterial contamination during surgery

This study was performed to investigate the correlation between the contamination of the anterior chamber and the technique of extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Three different methods were used: uncomplicated planned ECCE, phacoemulsification involving suturing method, and sutureless technique. All patients had posterior chamber intraocular lenses implanted. Two hundred and thirty consecutive patients were included in this prospective study, and preoperative smears of the conjunctiva and intraoperative aspirates of the anterior chamber were investigated. Samples of the aqueous humor were taken at the beginning and at the end of the operation. Cultures were incubated and held for 14 days. More than 71% of the preoperative smears were contaminated by coagulase-negative staphylococci, the most commonly isolated bacteria. However, 27% of the patients had culture-positive anterior chamber aspirates intraoperatively, also with coagulase-negative staphylococci as the most frequent organisms. In no case did postoperative endophthalmitis develop. Preliminary results in a small population show that the contamination of the aqueous humor is statistically significantly less frequent if the cataract extraction is performed by phacoemulsification than if it is done without phacoemulsification. Another interesting finding is that anterior chamber contamination is not significantly more frequent, if a sutureless technique is used for cataract surgery.     

The outcome of the functioning filter after subsequent cataract extraction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the outcome of functioning filtration surgery followed by cataract surgery with posterior intraocular lens implantation by both phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) techniques in glaucomatous eyes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course of 77 eyes (68 patients) that after successful trabeculectomy, underwent cataract surgery by either phacoemulsification or ECCE techniques. We determined the frequency of partial and absolute failure following cataract surgery by either phacoemulsification or ECCE in eyes with functioning trabeculectomies. Partial failure of intraocular pressure (IOP), control after cataract extraction was defined as the need for an increased number of antiglaucoma medications or argon laser trabeculoplasty to maintain IOP < or =21mm Hg. Complete failure of IOP control after cataract surgery was defined as an IOP >21 mm Hg on at least two consecutive measurements one or more weeks apart or the performance of additional filtration surgery. Failure rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier actuarial method. Failure rates between phacoemulsification and ECCE subgroups were compared using the log rank test. RESULTS: The probability of partial failure by the third postoperative year after cataract surgery was 39.5% in the phacoemulsification subgroup and 37.3% in the ECCE subgroup. This small difference is not statistically significant (P = 0.48). The probability of complete failure by the fourth postoperative year after cataract surgery was 12.0% in the phacoemulsification subgroup and 12.5% in the ECCE subgroup. This difference is also not statistically significant (P = 0.77). At the 6-month follow-up visit, visual acuity of both groups improved one or more lines in 87.0% of patients, and worsened one or more lines in 3.9% of patients. Sixty-one percent achieved visual acuity of 20/40 or better. The most frequent complication was posterior capsular opacification requiring laser capsulotomy that occurred in 31.2% of patients. CONCLUSION: Cataract extraction by either phacoemulsification or ECCE following trabeculectomy surgery may be associated with a partial loss of the previously functioning filter and the need for more antiglaucoma medications to control IOP.     

白内障术后眼内炎的治疗分析

目的：探讨白内障术后眼内炎的治疗方案及效果。方法：对我院2006-01/2010-12白内障摘除术＋人工晶状体植入术的21973例28722眼患者的资料（超声乳化20937例27521眼,囊外摘除术1036例1201眼）进行回顾性分析。结果：在全部术眼中,感染性眼内炎11眼,感染率为0.04%,9眼发生于超声乳化术后,2眼发生于白内障囊外摘除术后。共有5眼病原菌培养阳性,其中表皮葡萄球菌2眼,金黄色葡萄球菌,浅绿色气球菌,真菌各1眼。感染发生于白内障术后2wk以内者占73%（8/11）,房水混浊或前房积脓者行前房灌洗＋玻璃体腔注射万古霉素;前房积脓合并明显玻璃体混浊或经前房灌洗＋玻璃体腔注射万古霉素治疗观察1～2d感染加重者行前房灌洗＋玻璃体切割术。治疗后11眼均保住眼球。结论：白内障术后眼内炎经常发生于白内障术后2wk以内,经及时有效的治疗可控制感染发展,保留部分有用视力;前房灌洗＋玻璃体腔注射万古霉素必要时联合玻璃体切割术是有效的治疗方法。     

Significant nonsurgical risk factors for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: EPSWA fourth report

PURPOSE: Endophthalmitis remains a devastating complication of cataract surgery, despite improved methods of prophylaxis and surgical technique. The current study was conducted to identify sociodemographic, environmental, and clinical risk factors for the development of postoperative endophthalmitis, using population-based administrative data from Western Australia. METHODS: The Western Australian Data Linkage System identified all patients who underwent cataract surgery, along with those in whom postoperative endophthalmitis subsequently developed, from 1980 to 2000 inclusive. Cases of endophthalmitis were cross-referenced with other sources and validated by medical record review. After selection and preliminary analysis of potential risk factors, multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to estimate odds ratios for the selected variables. RESULTS: Over the 21 years, 210 cases of endophthalmitis occurred after 117,083 cataract procedures, yielding a cumulative incidence rate of 1.79 per 1000 procedures. The incidence of endophthalmitis decreased for extracapsular extraction over the whole period, but not for phacoemulsification over the recent 12 years. There was no risk-adjusted difference in the incidence rate of endophthalmitis for the various cataract surgery procedure types. However, a significantly higher risk was found in patients aged over 80 years, in having surgery in private hospitals, and to a lesser degree in having same-day surgery and surgery in winter. Cataract surgery with lacrimal or eyelid procedures dramatically increased the risk of endophthalmitis. CONCLUSIONS: It may be possible to reduce the incidence rate of postoperative endophthalmitis by almost 80% with a systematic approach to the management of elderly patients, hospital stay, and clinical protocols.     

Acute-onset endophthalmitis after cataract surgery (2000-2004): incidence, clinical settings, and visual acuity outcomes after treatment

PURPOSE: To report the incidence, clinical settings, and visual acuity outcomes of acute-onset endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series. METHODS: Annual cataract surgery statistics were determined by review of electronic surgical records. The clinical and microbiologic records were reviewed of all patients with clinically diagnosed endophthalmitis within 6 weeks after cataract surgery at a single university-affiliated hospital between January 2000 and November 2004. main outcome measures: Operative technique, intraoperative complications, and visual acuity. RESULTS: The incidence of acute-onset endophthalmitis after cataract surgery was 0.04% (7/15,920) for cataract surgeries of all methods, 0.05% (6/11,462) for cataract surgery by clear cornea phacoemulsification, and 0.02% (1/4,458) for cataract surgery by methods other than clear cornea phacoemulsification (P = .681, Fisher's exact test). Six of seven (86%) cases occurred in the right eye, and all cases were performed by right-handed surgeons through temporal incisions. Five of seven (71%) patients had relative immune compromise. Four of seven (57%) patients had an intraoperative complication: vitreous loss in three patients and iris prolapse in one patient. Two patients had topical placement of lidocaine 2% gel before povidone-iodine preparation. The visual acuity at final follow up was 20/25 or better in four patients and count fingers or worse in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of acute-onset endophthalmitis after temporal clear cornea incision phacoemulsification is low (0.05%). Potential risk factors for endophthalmitis may include intraoperative complications, relative immune compromise, application of lidocaine 2% gel before povidone-iodine preparation, and inferior incision location.     

Daily tonometric curves after cataract surgery

AIM: To evaluate daily tonometric curves after cataract surgery in patients with cataract only and in patients with cataract and glaucoma. METHODS: 108 patients scheduled for cataract surgery were randomly allocated to two groups: 57 patients with cataract only (normal) and 51 with cataract and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). All patients underwent extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) (manual technique with long wound), phacoemulsification (automated technique with short wound), or nucleus capture (manual technique with short wound). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured by Goldmann tonometry in all patients every 2 hours for 12 hours before the operation and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: 79 patients completed the 6 month examination. ECCE resulted in greater reductions in IOP than the other procedures (ECCE: 27% and 36% in normal patients and those with POAG, respectively; nucleus capture: 20% and 31%, respectively; phacoemulsification: 19% and 22%, respectively). The fluctuations in IOP before and after surgery were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery in normal patients reduces IOP but does not eliminate fluctuations which are directly proportional to the IOP value and result partly from circadian rhythms. This important finding might influence our approach to treatment of patients with glaucoma.     

National outcomes of cataract extraction. I. Retinal detachment after inpatient surgery

Rehospitalization for retinal detachment (RD) was studied in 338,141 Medicare beneficiaries older than 65 years of age who were undergoing inpatient cataract extraction in 1984. Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) was performed in 60% of patients, intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE) in 31%, and phacoemulsification in 9%. The risk of rehospitalization for RD within 4 years of ICCE was 1.55% over 1.5 times the risk associated with ECCE (0.9%). The risk of RD after phacoemulsification was 1.17%. Cataract surgery accompanied by anterior vitrectomy was associated with a 5.0%, likelihood of RD at 4 years, which is 4.5 times greater than that for cataract surgery alone (1.12%). White patients were 1.7 times more likely to be rehospitalized for RD than were black patients (1.15% versus 0.67%; P less than 0.001). In both races, younger patients were more likely to be rehospitalized for RD than were older patients (P less than 0.001). While the increased rate of RD after ICCE versus ECCE confirms previously held clinical beliefs, the increase in the risk following phacoemulsification (P less than 0.0001) has not been reported previously.     

Risk factors for endophthalmitis following cataract surgery-our experience at a tertiary eye care centre in India

AIM: To determine the risk factors for acute endophthalmitis after cataract extraction in a tertiary care centre in India. METHODS: We performed a nested case control study within a retrospective cohort. The surgical records of all patients with clinically diagnosed endophthalmitis within one month after cataract surgery, performed between January 2006 and December 2009, were reviewed. These were compared with randomly selected age and gender-matched controls, from patients having routine cataract surgery within ±1wk of the endophthalmitis case. Univariable and multivariable analysis were performed to identify risk factors for endophthalmitis. RESULTS: Of the total 33 856 cataract surgeries performed during this period, there were 57 cases of postoperative acute endophthalmitis that met our study criteria. Thus, the overall incidence of endophthalmitis in our cohort was 1.6 per 1000 cataract extractions performed. Mean age of cases was 55.9y (SD: 10.9y) and for controls was 55.6y (SD: 9.8y). Thirty-five cases (61.4%) and 133 controls (59.6%) were males. Median time of onset of endophthalmitis was 4d (IQR 2-9d; range: 1-30d). Thirty-nine cases (68.4%) presented within 7d and 27 cases (47.4%) were culture positive. Two hundred and twenty-three age and gender matched controls were selected. In multivariate analysis, endophthalmitis was associated with posterior capsular rupture (PCR) during surgery (OR 6.98, 95%CI: 2.22-21.98), phacoemulsification via scleral incision with a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation (OR 3.02, 95%CI: 1.13-8.04) and ocular co-morbidity (OR 2.32, 95%CI: 1.11-4.87). CONCLUSION: PCR, presence of ocular co-morbidity, and phacoemulsification via scleral incision with foldable-IOL were found to be independent risk factors for acute endophthalmitis.     

Cataract surgery in patients with Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI). METHODS: We studied the records of 35 patients with FHI who underwent cataract extraction. Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) was performed by phacoemulsification through a scleral flap in 9 patients and by manual delivery of the nucleus through a corneal section in 26 patients. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of 24 (3-60) months, the visual acuity in 21 eyes (60%) was 20/20, and all eyes had 20/40 or better vision. Six eyes with implanted regular PMMA IOL developed a marked anterior uveitis, which was resolved within 3 weeks with topical steroids. Only 1+ or 2+ cellular reaction was observed postoperatively in patients with heparin-coated lens implantation and patients who underwent phacoemulsification. Biomicroscopic evidence of giant cell activity was observed in two patients with heparin-coated IOL and in 11 with regular PMMA IOLs after ECCE (two after phacoemulsification). Four eyes developed intraocular pressure elevation that reverts to normal within 24 weeks with medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the surgical outcomes of FHI patients after cataract surgery appear to be better when the phacoemulsification technique is used or when heparin-coated lenses are implanted.     

Bacterial contamination: epidemiology in cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate anterior chamber (AC) bacterial contamination at the end of cataract surgery in a large series of patients, to determine the influence of operative technique on ocular contamination. METHODS: Retrospective study of 2,624 patients undergoing cataract extraction, 354 extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and 2,270 phacoemulsification. Anterior chamber aspirates were performed on completion of surgery for microbiological studies. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty two patients (5%) had culture-positive anterior chamber aspirates. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium sp. and Corynebacterium sp. were the most commonly isolated organisms. The AC contamination rates during ECCE (5.6%) and phacoemulsification (4.7%) were not statistically different. There was a statistically significantly higher risk of AC contamination in eyes receiving an intraocular lens (IOL) with polypropylene haptics (9.9%) than in eyes receiving the same IOL with polymethylmethacrylate haptics (4.4%). CONCLUSION: Surgical technique had no statistically significant effect on ocular contamination. Polypropylene haptics IOLs were associated with a higher risk of bacterial contamination.     

超声乳化白内障吸除术和囊外白内障摘除术对患者视力影响的Meta分析

目的系统评价超声乳化白内障吸除术(Phaco)和囊外白内障摘除术(ECCE)对患者视力的影响。方法检索:Medline数据库和中国生物医学文献数据库,对9篇有关:Phaco和ECCE临床疗效的随机对照临床试验文献进行Meta分析。以危险差判定Phaco(Phaco组)和ECCE(ECCE组)的治疗效果,并按照随机效应模型计算合并危险差。结果9篇文献共计白内障患者1192例。术后近期(术后时间<1周)和远期(术后时间>3个月)Phaco组与ECCE组视力≥0.5者的合并危险差分别为24％(95％可信区间为:10％-37％)和20％(95％可信区间为14％-25％),差异均有非常显著意义(P<0.001)。Phaco组和ECCE组手术并发症的发生率分别为36.8％和62.1％,差异有非常显著意义(P<0.01)。结论Phaco术后患者视力恢复快、好且稳定,手术并发症少;Phaco是一种疗效优于ECCE的复明手术。(中华眼科杂志,2004,40:474-477)     

Factors influencing treatment results in pseudophakic endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate risk factors, therapeutic approaches and factors associated with the poor visual outcome in pseudophakic endophthalmitis. METHODS: Data related to 28 cases with the diagnosis of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and IOL implantation were gathered retrospectively. RESULTS: Preceding surgery was extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) in 18, phacoemulsification in 8 and scleral fixated intraocular lens implantation in two cases. Posterior capsule rupture and diabetes mellitus were considered to contribute to the development of endophthalmitis because of their high incidences (50% and 25%) in the study group. Microbiological studies from aqueous and vitreous humour were done in 85% of the cases and 58% were positive. S. Epidermidis was the most common organism, accounting for 50% of the isolates. All cases were given topical and systemic antibiotics. Inflammation was controlled by addition of subconjunctival antibiotics to this regimen in two, intravitreal antibiotic injection in 14, pars plana vitrectomy, total capsular and lens extraction and intravitreal antibiotic injection in three, lens exchange, intracapsular and intravitreal antibiotic injection in three cases. Six (21%) cases eventually needed evisceration. Visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 25%, and 20/100 or better in 64%. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment delay (p=0.039), capsular rupture complicating cataract surgery, especially with extracapsular cataract extraction (p=0.015), and initial visual acuity worse than hand motion (p=0.003) were strong predictors of poor visual outcome. The risk of endophthalmitis was not different forplanned ECCCE (0.26%) andphacoemulsification (0.27%) but the prognosis was better with the latter.     

超声乳化吸出先天性白内障

目的:观察超声乳化在先天性白内障的应用。方法:对32例49眼行先天性白内障超声乳化吸出及人工晶状体植入,术中应用隧道切口和连续环形撕囊技术,低能量超声乳化或I/A系统清除晶状体核和皮质,囊袋内植入折叠式人工晶状体。并与同期相同条件的病例行ECCE PMMA人工晶状体植入术41例59眼相对比,观察术后视力及并发症。结果:术后1a时2组病例脱残率和并发症发生率有显著差异(P<0.01),其中后发性白内障发生率,超声乳化组6%,对照组76%。结论:本组病例中超声乳化吸出先天性白内障,有良好的前房稳定性,彻底清除晶状体皮质,术后并发症少。     

Effect of extracapsular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification performed after trabeculectomy on intraocular pressure

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is a difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) control between extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and phacoemulsification performed after successful trabeculectomy. SETTING: Eye Unit, St. Woolos Hospital, Newport, United Kingdom. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 55 patients with glaucoma who had had trabeculectomy and subsequently had cataract surgery. Extracapsular cataract extraction was performed in 34 eyes and phacoemulsification in 21. The IOP before cataract surgery was used as a baseline for comparison with the IOP at 6 and 12 months and at the last follow-up visit (mean 44.26 months in the ECCE group and 15.09 months in the phacoemulsification group). At the 3 postoperative examinations, the IOP was recorded before and after institution of medical treatment. RESULTS: In the ECCE group, the IOP exceeded the target pressure in 7 eyes and required medical treatment; it remained uncontrolled in 1 eye at the final visit. In the phacoemulsification group, the IOP was less than 18 mm Hg without any medication and within the target pressure in all 21 eyes. The IOP increase after ECCE was statistically significant (mean IOP was 13.61 mm Hg before and 15.53 mm Hg after ECCE; P = .0297). After treatment was instituted, there was no statistically significant difference in the IOP compared with the preoperative value (P = .0796 at 6 months, .677 at 1 year, and .4419 at the final visit in the ECCE group and .0703, .2220, and .1035, respectively, in the phacoemulsification group). CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that IOP was better controlled by phacoemulsification than by ECCE in patients who had had filtration surgery.     

Comparison of phacoemulsification and planned extracapsular cataract extraction in combined pars plana vitrectomy and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To compare two kinds of cataract removal methods combined with pars plana vitrectomy and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC-IOL) implantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cataract removal was performed by either phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and followed by pars plana vitrectomy and PC-IOL implantation. Between May 1996 and June 2001, 31 and 22 patients with cataract and vitreoretinal disease were treated by phacoemulsification and ECCE, respectively, combined with pars plana vitrectomy and PC-IOL implantation. Preoperative demographic data and postoperative vision, astigmatism change, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in the phacoemulsification and ECCE groups was 62.5 and 63.4 years, respectively. Diabetes mellitus was the most common underlying disease resulting in vitreous opacity. Vision improved in 87.1% of the phacoemulsification group and 59.1% of the ECCE group. The change in astigmatism after surgery was 0.92+/-1.08 D (P = .001) in the ECCE group and 0.25+/-0.74 D (P = .087) in the phacoemulsification group. There were fewer postoperative complications, including recurrent vitreous hemorrhage, increased intraocular pressure, and iris changes in the phacoemulsification group than in the ECCE group. CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification and ECCE combined with pars plana vitrectomy and PC-IOL implantation are both effective surgical methods to achieve better and more rapid visual rehabilitation for patients with combined cataract and vitreoretinal disease. In this study, phacoemulsification combined with pars plana vitrectomy and PC-IOL implantation resulted in greater improvement in vision, less astigmatism change, and fewer postoperative complications.     

后囊缺陷性白内障超声乳化术的临床观察

目的:探讨后囊缺陷性白内障手术方式,比较超声乳化技术和囊外摘除技术的安全性和效果。方法:回顾性分析后囊缺陷性白内障患者33例40眼的手术效果,囊外摘除手术组(ECCE组)10例12眼、超声乳化手术组(Phaco组)23例28眼。结果:后囊破裂+玻璃体脱出:ECCE组为3眼(25%),Phaco组为3眼(11%),两组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)。术后矫正视力提高≥2行者:ECCE组为10眼(83%),Phaco组为26眼(93%),两组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论:对于后囊缺陷性白内障患者,超声乳化手术的安全性和效果优于囊外手术。超声乳化手术中,始终保持前房的稳定,不行水分离、在低流量、低负压、低能量下进行,正确处理后极部皮质与后囊膜的关系是手术成功的关键。     

Endophthalmitis following cataract surgery in Southwest Finland from 1987 to 2000

Purpose To investigate the incidence, causes, prevention, treatment and outcome of postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) following cataract surgery in south-west Finland from 1987 to 2000. Methods We reviewed the medical records of all patients with POE following cataract surgery treated in the hospital district of Southwest Finland from 1 January 1987 to 31 December 2000. Population-based annual incidence rates of cataract extractions and POE were calculated using the corrected population statistics of the hospital district. Results There were 29,350 cataract procedures during the 14-year period. POE developed in 47 patients. The annual incidence of cataract operations increased more than fivefold from 1987 (155 per 100,000 population) to the maximum in 1999 (930 per 100,000 population), whereas the annual incidence of postcataract endophthalmitis decreased from the maximum of 11.1 per 1,000 cataract extractions (1.91 per 100,000 population) in 1988 to the minimum of 0–0.6 per 1,000 cataract extractions in 1999 and 2000. POE occurred statistically significantly more frequently after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) than after phacoemulsification (Phaco) (P=0.0006). Gram-positive bacteria were the most frequent cause of acute POE and Propionibacterium acnes was the most frequent reason for delayed-onset POE. The complications of POE after cataract surgery included visual loss to below 0.05 (25.5% of affected eyes), opacification of the cornea (21.3%), secondary cataract (40.4%), increase in intraocular pressure (29.8%), vitreous clouding (63.8%), and retinal detachment (6.4%). Nearly one half of the eyes achieved final visual acuity of 0.5 or better. Conclusions During the 14-year study period there was a shift from ECCE to Phaco, a fivefold increase in cataract extractions, and a decrease in the annual incidence of POE from 5.5–11.1 to 0–0.6 per 1,000 operations. Phaco was associated with a lower risk of POE than ECCE. None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.     

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Endophthalmitis after cataract extraction

PURPOSE: To report the clinical course, treatment response, and prognosis of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia endophthalmitis following cataract extraction. METHODS: The clinical records of six cases of S. maltophilia endophthalmitis after cataract extraction were retrospectively reviewed. Data were collected for surgical characteristics, disease course, culture growth, antibiotic sensitivity of the pathogen, response to treatment, and final visual acuity. RESULTS: Four patients underwent uncomplicated cataract extraction with phacoemulsification (PHACO) and intracapsular intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. One case was complicated by inadvertent posterior capsular tear during PHACO and IOL implantation. One patient underwent a combined extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with IOL implantation and trabeculectomy, but vitrectomy was also performed because of cortical material loss into the vitreous cavity after a capsular tear. Symptoms began between postoperative days 1 and 19. All patients underwent a vitreous tap and intravitreal injections of antibiotics. Medical therapy alone was sufficient in five patients to treat the infection. One patient had four episodes of recurrence. Pars plana vitrectomy with subsequent capsulectomy and IOL extraction were performed in this patient to complete remission. CONCLUSION: S. maltophilia should be considered a pathogenic organism possibly causing endophthalmitis after PHACO+IOL implantation. The clinical picture resembles acute bacterial endophthalmitis. When the pathogen has settled in the capsular bag, the infection may persist and become refractory to medical treatment.     

Long-term effect of cataract surgery on intraocular pressure after trabeculectomy: extracapsular extraction versus phacoemulsification

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation on long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) control in glaucoma patients who had previous trabeculectomy with the effect on IOP control in similar patients after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with IOL implantation. SETTING: Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford, England. METHODS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients who had phacoemulsification with IOL implantation (phaco group) at least 3 months after trabeculectomy were identified from hospital records, and 28 patients who had ECCE with IOL implantation (ECCE group) were matched retrospectively to the phaco group with respect to age, sex, diagnosis, and IOP. In both groups, the IOP before cataract extraction was compared with the IOP at intervals up to 2 years after cataract extraction. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed. RESULTS: The mean IOP in the phaco group did not differ significantly from the mean IOP before cataract extraction at any interval. Twelve months after cataract extraction, the mean IOP in the ECCE group was significantly higher than preoperatively (P =.01); however, the mean IOP did not differ between groups over time (P =.704). There was significantly better long-term IOP control in the phaco group as determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test (P =.038). CONCLUSION: After trabeculectomy, phacoemulsification provided better long-term IOP control than ECCE; however, the mean IOP was not significantly lower.