Prompt 27-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy for bleb-associated endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: To summarize the characters of 6 bleb-associated endophthalmitis (BAE) cases and to report the outcomes of prompt 27-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy to treat these cases. METHODS: Retrospective, non-randomized, consecutive case series of patients diagnosed with bleb-associated endophthalmitis who underwent prompt 27-gauge vitrectomy. RESULTS: The interval to get bleb-associated endophthalmitis from previous surgery was variant from 2 weeks to 36 months. Most of the patients experienced eye pain. The visual acuity was affected quickly. All the patients presented with hypopyon, fibrinous reaction, and vitreous wick. The size of the hypopyon was from 2 to 4 mm. Two patients came with intraocular lenses. Prompt 27-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy was performed on all patients with bleb-associated endophthalmitis. None of the patients experienced complications of sutureless vitrectomy such as hypotony or wound leak. The improvement of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was significant in four of six patients. The improvement of BCVA was statistically calculated by using logMAR VA (p < 0.01). The intraocular pressure (IOP) in all six patients reduced after the surgery. At 6 months’ follow-up, four patients with diffuse blebs had normal IOPs while two patients with cystic or encapsulated blebs had uncontrolled IOPs (> 21 mmHg) and received pressure-lowering agents. CONCLUSIONS: BAE is associated with substantial visual morbidity. Prompt 27-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy is an effective and safe way for treating bleb-associated endophthalmitis.