Visual Prognosis of Culture-Proven Bacterial Endophthalmitis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors contributing to the visual outcome of patients with culture-proven bacterial endophthalmitis. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of all eyes with infectious endophthalmitis between January 1996 and June 2005. The causative bacteria were identified in 18 of 90 eyes, for which we evaluated their clinical features and factors influencing their visual prognosis. RESULTS: Bacterial endophthalmitis occurred after cataract surgery in 6 of 18 eyes, after trabeculectomy or glaucoma implant surgery in 4 eyes, after trauma in 3 eyes, after intravitreal triamcinolone injection in 1 eye, and after endogenous endophthalmitis in 4 eyes. The culture results were similar between gram positive and gram negative organisms. Final vision was 0.1 or better in 6 of the 18 eyes. Final visual acuities showed statistically significant correlation with causative organisms (p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: For effective management of bacterial endophthalmitis and prediction of prognosis, we recommend thorough bacterial culture. Also, further investigation with a large population is needed.