Treatment outcomes of post cataract surgery endophthalmitis in Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract EN

Purpose: Endophthalmitis after cataract surgery is an uncommon but extremely feared and devastating complication, which requires prompt recognition and appropriate treatment in order to prevent a poor visual outcome.

This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence, clinical features, causative organisms, and the final visual outcomes associated with endophthalmitis post cataract surgery.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of all eyes with endophthalmitis within 6 weeks of cataract surgery between January 1, 2014 till December 31, 2018, and with at least 3 months follow-up.

Results: The 5-year incidence of acute-onset endophthalmitis after cataract surgery was 293.9 per 100,000 (0.29%): 263.5 per 100,000 (0.26%) for phacoemulsification and 545 (0.54%) for ECCE (P= 0.294).

The main presenting features were pain (100%), corneal edema (90%) and vitritis (90%).

The culture reports showed 2 cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 2 cases of Streptococcus species, 1 case of Candida, 1 case of Enterococcus, and 1 case of gram-negative bacilli.

Of the 10 patients, 2 (20%) had a final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/200 or better, 3 (30%) had visual acuity of counting fingers, 3 (30%) had a final BCVA of light perception and 2 (20%) had a final BCVA of NPL.

Conclusion: The final visual outcomes of post cataract surgery endophthalmitis are generally poor and only 20% of the eyes achieved a BCVA ≥ 20/200.

Prevention and care of post cataract endophthalmitis play a key role in the prevention and treatment of blindness.