[Retinal periphlebitis as early sign of endophthalmitis]

75 year-old woman was operated for cataract by means of phacoemulsification without complications. Four days after she came for suddenly blurred vision and floaters; on ocular examination there was a periphlebitis in the fundus. On the following day, an endophthalmitis with typical signs and symptoms was evident.

Endophthalmitis is one of the most serious complications of the cataract surgery; therefore, an early diagnosis and treatment is necessary to preserve an adequate visual function. One of the earliest sings of bacterial endophthalmitis, seldom found, is a retinal periphlebitis, which the ophthalmologist must know and make a prompt decision.