Late-onset Corynebacterium endophthalmitis following laser posterior capsulotomy

Four months following uncomplicated cataract extraction, a patient underwent Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Three days later, she presented with pain, hand motions vision, and severe anterior uveitis and vitritis. A coincident retinal detachment led to a delay in diagnosing the etiology of this intraocular inflammation. After recurrent episodes of inflammation that were initially responsive to corticosteroids, the patient underwent a vitrectomy, lens explantation, capsulectomy, and intravitreal antibiotic injections, which resulted in complete resolution of the intraocular inflammation with a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/60. Corynebacterium species was ultimately cultured from the capsular tissue. The release of sequestered bacterial organisms must be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent or unusually intense inflammation following laser posterior capsulotomy.