Prophylactic Intracameral Vancomycin Irrigation and Cystoid Macular Edema

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine whether the use of prophylactic vancomycin in the irrigating solutions during cataract surgery is associated with increased incidence of cystoid macular edema METHODS: We underwent a study from November 1, 1999 to May 31, 2000 by inserting hydrophilic acryl-IOL after phacoemulsification to patients diagnosed with senile cataract over 60 years of age, without systemic and ocular disease. The patients were divided into two groups, one is the use of prophylactic vancomycin in the irrigating solutions and the other is no use of prophylactic vancomycin. A randomized prospective study on the respective 50 subjects who did not have complications such as intraoperative posterior capsular rupture or other postoperative complications was conducted. We checked ophthalmologic examinations and fluorescene angiography for cystoid macular edema of the two gruops in 1 month and 4 months after surgery. RESULTS: The incidences of clinical or angiogenic cystoid macular edema in postoperative 4 months are 2 (4%), 7 (14%) in vancomycin group and 0 (0%), 2 (4%) in control group respectedly. (p=0.4095), (p=0.0999) There was no statically significant difference between two groups but slightly higher in the vancomycin group than that in control group. Visual recovery had no significant difference between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statically significant relationship between the use of preventive intracameral vancomycin during cataract surgery and the incidence of cystoid macular edema, but need further study to clear up the relationship of them.