Management of endophthalmitis while preserving the uninvolved crystalline lens

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this work is to report on the management of endophthalmitis in phakic eyes in which the crystalline lens was preserved. METHODS: The current study is a noncomparative consecutive case series of patients who developed culture-proven endophthalmitis and were treated between January 1995 and June 2009. The study included only phakic patients whose infection was managed without removal of the crystalline lens. Using a computerized search of Microbiology Department records, patients were identified with phakic lens status and clinically diagnosed endophthalmitis. RESULTS: A total of 12 phakic eyes from 11 patients met the study criteria. The etiology of infection was endogenous (n = 6), postoperative (n = 5), and post-traumatic (n = 1). Pars plana vitrectomy and injection of intravitreal antimicrobials was performed in seven eyes (58%), and vitreous tap and injection of antimicrobials was performed in five eyes (42%). All eyes showed progression of lens opacification after treatment. Overall, nine (75%) achieved visual acuity outcomes ≥20/80, including five of seven (71%) eyes treated with vitrectomy and four of five eyes (80%) treated with injection of antibiotics alone. One of seven eyes (14%) treated with vitrectomy had a poor visual outcome (defined as <20/400) compared with one of five (20%) eyes treated with intravitreal antimicrobials alone. During follow-up, all 12 eyes had progression of lens opacification and five of 12 (42%) eyes underwent cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens placement. CONCLUSION: In phakic patients, successful treatment of endophthalmitis can be achieved while preserving the uninvolved crystalline lens. Future cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens placement can be accomplished in many of these patients.