Candida pelliculosa endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: a case report

Here we report the first case of postoperative endophthalmitis due to Candida pelliculosa after cataract surgery. We describe the clinical management of this type of candida infection in the eye.

A 57-year-old Turk man was seen at our clinic at the end of the first postoperative month after cataract surgery. He presented with eye redness, pain and decreased visual acuity. His ophthalmologic examination revealed moderate tyndall and a mild flare in the anterior chamber. Hypopyon in the capsular bag posterior to the intraocular lens was seen in the second postoperative month. Despite topical and subconjunctival bacterial endophthalmitis treatment, there was no improvement in the clinical situation. Candida pelliculosa was isolated from a sample culture obtained from the anterior chamber. Oral fluconazole could not be administered because of increased liver enzyme levels and intravenous amphotericin B could not be administered because of an allergic reaction. Intraocular lens explantation, pars plana vitrectomy and anterior chamber lavage by rupturing the posterior wall of the microabscesses were performed. Intravitreal and intracameral amphotericin B injections were given four times in addition to surgical interventions. The patient has been followed for 2 years and his best-corrected visual acuity was 0.4 at the last visit.

Nearly 1 month after cataract surgery, a patient presented with eye redness and blurred vision, with corneal endothelial deposits, hypopyon in the capsular bag and microabscesses on the incision sites and corneal endothelium. Candida pelliculosa should be considered in patients showing these symptoms. Multiple intraocular amphotericin B (5 μg) administrations can be used safely even in cases with high sensitivity to systemic use. Rupturing the posterior wall of the abscesses on the corneal endothelium surgically with intraocular lens explantation and pars plana vitrectomy are recommended.