Endoscopy-assisted vitrectomy for treatment of severe endophthalmitis with retinal detachment

To decrease evisceration of eyes, endoscopy-assisted pars plana vitrectomy is a choice for patients with severe endophthalmitis accompanied with retinal detachment and corneal edema.

To evaluate surgical outcomes using an intraocular videoendoscope for vitrectomy in patients with severe endophthalmitis with retinal detachment.

From December 2006 to August 2009, the medical records of 21 patients undergoing endoscopy-assisted vitrectomy for endophthalmitis with retinal detachment were studied. Only patients with ≥18 months follow-up were included.

Intraocular infections were under control in 19 of the 21 patients. Postoperatively, the visual acuity of three of the patients ranged from 2/100 to 20/100 (14.3 %), two of the patients left with finger counting (9.5 %), eight had hand motion (38.1 %), six had light perception (28.6 %), and the other two had their eyes eviscerated (9.5 %) because of recurrent and uncontrollable infection.

In patients with severe endophthalmitis accompanied with retinal detachment and marked corneal opacity, it is appropriate to conduct endoscopy-assisted pars plana vitrectomy to decrease evisceration of eyes.