Long-term follow-up of Candida endophthalmitis in the premature infant

In the March 1981 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, Baley, Annable and Kleigman discussed the natural course of Candida endophthalmitis in the premature infant. We now have long-term follow-up on the three surviving infants along with follow-up on an additional eight patients. Though vitrectomy is routinely performed in adults, we recommended that it not be performed in premature infants with systemic candidiasis and associated vitreo-retinal pathology. These 11 infants with candidal endophthalmitis secondary to systemic candidiasis demonstrated minimal residual ocular pathology after having been treated with systemic antifungals alone. Neither vitreous taps nor intravitreal injections should be performed in infants with ocular candidiasis.