A 10 year retrospective survey of cataract surgery and endophthalmitis in a single eye unit: injectable lenses lower the incidence of endophthalmitis

Aim: To study the incidence of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery over a 10 year period, and to examine ways in which this may be related to changes in surgical technique. Methods: All cases of endophthalmitis occurring over a 10 year period within a single ophthalmic unit in the United King...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of ophthalmology 2003-07, Vol.87 (7), p.867-869
Main Authors: Mayer, E, Cadman, D, Ewings, P, Twomey, J M, Gray, R H, Claridge, K G, Hakin, K N, Bates, A K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antibiotics
Bacteria
Biological and medical sciences
Cataract
Cataract Extraction - adverse effects
Cataract Extraction - methods
cataract surgery
Cataracts
Clinical Science - Extended Reports
Confidence intervals
Endophthalmitis
Endophthalmitis - etiology
Endophthalmitis - microbiology
Eye surgery
Female
Hospitals
Humans
Inflammation
injectable lenses
Iodine
Lens diseases
Lenses, Intraocular
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Ophthalmology
Phacoemulsification
Retrospective Studies
Surgery
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Surgery of the eye and orbit
Visual Acuity - physiology
Vitrectomy
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Summary:Aim: To study the incidence of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery over a 10 year period, and to examine ways in which this may be related to changes in surgical technique. Methods: All cases of endophthalmitis occurring over a 10 year period within a single ophthalmic unit in the United Kingdom were reviewed, and possible risk factors identified. Results: During the study period, as the technique of extracapsular cataract surgery was replaced by phacoemulsification, there was a commensurate reduction in the incidence of endophthalmitis. Injectable IOLs were associated with the lowest risk of postoperative endophthalmitis (0.028%). Conclusions: Injectable intraocular lenses do not make contact with the ocular surface and this may result in the observed lower rate of endophthalmitis. This, and the ease with which they can be inserted through small incisions, support their use as the first line method of lens insertion.
ISSN:0007-1161
1468-2079
DOI:10.1136/bjo.87.7.867