Late-Onset Endophthalmitis Associated with Glaucoma Surgery

PURPOSE: To report cases of late-onset endophthalmitis associated with glaucoma surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 4905 consecutive patients who underwent glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy or valve implant surgery) from January 1, 1988 to March 31, 2013. RESULTS: There were a total of 14 late-onset endophthalmitis (0.29%) cases associated with glaucoma surgery occurring at 1 year to 21 years postoperatively. Six cases (6/993, 0.60%) occurred after valve implantation and the other 8 cases (8/3912, 0.20%) occurred after trabeculectomy (p = 0.046). All but one patient were injected with fortified vancomycin and ceftazidim. Four patients also received a vitrectomy with the injection. The implanted valve was removed in 2 cases. In four cases, organisms were found in the culture (staphylococcus.aureus, streptococcus viridians, propionibacterium acnes and candida parapsilosis). After 1 year, only 4 patients achieved a visual acuity above 4/200 compared with other patients who had a final visual acuity of hand motion or worse. Three patients (33%) who developed endophthalmitis underwent other intraocular procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Late-onset endophthalmitis associated with glaucoma surgery can often occur with fulminant sight-threatening complications. Due to devastating sequelae, the surgeon should carefully check the surgery site in the patients who underwent glaucoma surgery at every follow-up visit. Delayed endophthalmitis after glaucoma surgery still carries a poor visual prognosis and its onset is difficult to predict. Therefore, patients who undergo glaucoma surgery should be educated and carefully evaluated during regular follow-ups.

The Effect of Photodynamic Therapy with Verteporfin Retreatment on Corneal Neovascularization in Rabbits

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effect and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin retreatment on patients with corneal neovascularization. METHODS: Corneal neovascularization was induced with a silk suture of the corneal stroma in 24 white rabbits (48 eyes). Four rabbits were examined histologically before performing PDT. Ten rabbits were chosen randomly, one eye from each rabbit was treated with PDT at 50 J/cm2, and the other eye was used as a control. Both eyes of the remaining 10 rabbits were treated with PDT at 150 J/cm2. One week later, one eye was further retreated with PDT at the same intensity. The area of corneal neovascularization was measured and evaluated histologically using light and electron microscopies. RESULTS: The least neovascularized area was observed in the retreated group (P=0.04). The histologic examination revealed fewer new corneal vessels in the retreated group, but the corneal epithelium, stroma, and endothelium showed a normal appearance. Results from electron microscopic examination demonstrated thrombi as well as destruction and nuclear fragmentation of the vascular endothelial cells. However, there were no other changes in the cornea except for vascular endothelial cells, even in the retreated group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, these results suggest that PDT with verteporfin retreatment appears to be safe and significantly more effective in patients with regression of corneal neovascularization.